View of KROS College in Kohima. (File Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | May 29
At a time when schools and colleges in the country are seeking pleas from the Supreme Court to waive fees, colleges in Nagaland has moved a step ahead by waiving fees for its first semester admissions. While some colleges are waiving off 50 percent of admission and hostel fees, a few are completely waiving off admission and hostel fees.
“The response of the colleges has been overwhelming and very encouraging,” says Vimeyiekho Vitso, President, All Nagaland College Students' Union (ANCSU), informing that many colleges have come forward to waive fees for the students. Some colleges have waived the admission fees (amounting to Rs. 10,000) to 1st semester, some are waiving 50 percent of admission fee. Some are allowing the students to pay their admission fees on two installments while some have waived the college hostel fees for the next 6 month, informs the President.
While the students are yet to witness the full detrimental impact caused by the lockdown and pandemic outbreak, Vitso reminded that during the initial lockdown many students had to face “unruly times” where some were asked to vacate their hostels and rented homes.
“Students whose parents were farmers were unable to send them their monthly rations. But thanks to the district administration, agencies and individuals for extending help to the students during such time,” states Vitso.
One of the first colleges to announce its decision was KROS College, Lerie, Kohima which has waived off its entire admission and hostel fees for the first semester. Speaking to The Morung Express, Hinoca Assumi, Vice Principal, KROS College informed that 2020 marks the tenth year of the college, and prior to the pandemic and countrywide lockdown, the college had decided to provide free admissions to students passing out from government schools and colleges in commemoration of its tenth year.
“However with the pandemic and the lockdown, the KROS Education Society (management of KROS College) decided to exempt admission fees for everyone irrespective of whether you are coming from government or private colleges/schools,” says Assumi who however reminded that students will have to bear the expenses for uniform and University enrollment fee which is a nominal sum. The admission fees for the first semester costs around Rs. 11, 000 and every year the college receives about 70 to 100 students. “If we tally it together it's a big amount. But the college felt this is the way it can help the society. We felt this is the need of the hour,” says Assumi.
Besides KROS College, Mt. Mary College & Higher Secondary School, Chümoukedima, and Yemhi Memorial College, Dimapur have also waived its admission fee for first semester students.
For Imnameren N Jamir, General Secretary, ANCSU, the colleges waiving off fees is the “greatest gesture that is shown at this stage of uncertainty to the students’ community”. “The colleges are doing the selfless sacrifice not just for the student community but more for the parents and the community as a whole,” says Jamir who also express the hope that more colleges will follow suit so that the poor can send their children to acquire Higher Education.
With the gesture shown by the colleges, Jamir also hope that students will repay the gesture by giving their best to the college in studying and growing to their maximum potentials.
Alder College in Kohima is one among the few which has decided to waive off 50 percent of the admission fees for all new admissions to both the college and hostels. According to Zhapuvi Liegise, Administrator, Alder College, Kohima, the decision was taken keeping in mind the need of the moment in unprecedented times where help and support needs to be extended wherever and whenever possible, in any way one can.
“The economic struggle for everyone is getting extended along with lockdown by the day and the concession will have its affect on the college down the line too. However, the goal of an educational institution should be focused on providing a space for learning and quality education to every willing student and hopefully, this is a step towards it. 'We are all in this together' and everyone has to try their best to do their bit in times such as these, so we believe it is the right thing to do at this particular time,” remarks Liegise.
Some of the other colleges that are extending the gesture include Public College of Commerce Dimapur, Japfü Christian College, Kigwema and Modern College, Kohima.
