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Print media: From the previous around 40 or so, the number of government-approved newspapers, regular circulation of the newspapers have come down to 26 in Aizawl, 9 in Lunglei and 7 in Chhimtuipui districts . The principal dailies in Aizawl are- Mizo Aw, Romei, Mizo Arsi, Dingdi, Thupuan, Rahbi, Hnehtu, The Highlander. Of these, only The Highlander is published in English. An interesting development, however, is the increase of news magazines. News Magazines of sports, music etc. has come up in large numbers of about 35 or more in Aizawl.
Electronic media: There have been very fast progresses in the development of Electronic media (Radio, T.V/Cable TVs) during the past 10 years. This is largely because of the growing awareness in the society.
1. Radio: Radio continues to be the most extensive networks covering the entire state. AIR Aizawl station started functioning as an auxiliary station in May 1966 with frequency of 150Watt Medium wave. In 1970, the frequency was improved to 1 Kilowatt and then to 10 Kilowatts in 1975 and to the present frequency of 20 Kilowatts since 1979. Transmission from short wave started in 1992. Steps are being taken to install FM Stereo Transmitter. A 6 KW FM Radio Station was started in Lunglei in 1995. Soon, a captive earth station to uplink news from Aizawl will be opened in Lunglei . Two community Radio stations are to be opened at Saiha and Champhai to cover interior places.
2. Television: Doordarshan relayed the Asian Games 1982 from its first VLP Transmitter installed in Aizawl Tuikhuahtlang. HPT telecast was commenced in 1995 and LTP telecast on 12.6.1995. Another HPT Relay Centre was opened at Lunglei in 1995 and two VLPT centers were opened at Saiha and Champhai. Of these, only Aizawl centers telecast has recently increased from one hour to two hours. Besides Doorsdarshan's local programmes, people turn to Cable TV for entertainment and news. About 29 Cable Operators are doing business in the urban and semi-urban areas. The 'Sky Link' was the first to give Star TV programs to limited subscribers since 1991. The LPS and ZOZAM started their own production centers in 1992 and 1994 respectively. These local programs have been instrumental in giving information in local language apart from being ready entertainment. LPS programs have viewers in most of the district headquarters. These local programs have proved very useful and effective for publicity and they have a great potential for educational purpose as well.
Education: As it is mentioned earlier, the arrival of Christian missionaries brought a significant change in education and literacy in 1894. The first school of Mizoram was opened on 1st April 1894. From 1st April 1904 to 1952, educational administration in Mizoram was in the hands of the church. Mizoram became one of the Districts of Assam and Mizo District Council was formed on 25th April 1952. The post of Deputy Inspector of Schools was created in 1952. Besides exercising academic control over the institutions, the Deputy Inspector of Schools was directly responsible for the supervision and control of primary and middle school excepting mission schools. The Education Management Committee was introduced in 1953. In 1956 another post of Deputy Inspector of Schools was created to look after the southern portion of the district with its headquarters at Lunglei.
The Middle and Primary Scholarship Examination previously conducted separately in the south and north under the Honorary Inspector of Schools were conducted as one throughout the length and breadth of Mizoram.
The first teacher’s training institute `Basic Training Centre' was opened at Chaltlang on 1953 and the first batch of teacher trainees completed In-service training in the Institute. In July 1961 the supervision and general administration of primary education was put under District Council, and the responsibility was handed over to Education Officer of the District Council.
Development after being a Union Territory: On 21st January 1972 Mizoram attained the status of Union Territory and an entirely new change emerged in the educational system. Consequent upon this, there was a council of ministers and Education Directorate under the Education Minister. Immediately after Mizoram become a Union Territory, Directorate of Education was established in 1973 with a Director of Education, one Joint Director of Education and three Deputy Directors of Education.
Another remarkable change with the Education System was that the District Council Act was revoked on 29th April 1972. As a result, all the Primary Schools under the District Council were taken over by the Education Directorate. The Social Welfare Wing of the Department of Education was also made as separate Directorate in 1984 and the Sport and Youth Services Wing in 1986.
In order to make sure that these departments function effectively three separate Directorates were established and were given different tasks. The three Directorates look after:
a. Directorate of School Education: General Education (Primary, Middle, High School and Higher Secondary Schools) Statistic Wing Physical Education Wing Adult Education Wing (Non-Formal Education) Hindi Propagation. b. Directorate of Higher and Technical Education: Mizoram Colleges Hindi Training Institute Special Hindi School Polytechnic School College of Teachers Education c. Directorate of Art and Culture Tribal Research Wing State Library Wing Arts, Fine Arts and Music Archives.
Copyright CIIL-India Mysore