Minister Temjen Imna Along giving away the certificate to the graduate at the 38th Convocation programme of IGNOU at Kohima on March 5. (Morung Photo)
IGNOU Kohima Regional Centre holds 38th Convocation
Morung Express News
Kohima | March 5
Minister for Tourism and Higher Education, Temjen Imna Along said that education is not just about earning a degree certificate but about continuous learning and application in real life.
He was speaking at the 38th Convocation of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Region Centre Kohima held at Capital Convention Kohima on March 5 where 220 candidates receive their certificates.
The convocation ceremony is being simultaneously held IGNOU Headquarters at New Delhi with Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister for Education, GoI as the chief guest. In Kohima Regional Centre, 910 students have passed out comprising of 708 Masters Degrees, 154 Bachelor’s degree, 31 diplomas and 17 certificates.
Addressing the gathering, Along said institutions such as IGNOU built our people attributing it to the commitment of a democratic nation for its people. He appreciated the GoI for conjuring up with such a university and bringing it to Nagaland as well.
Emphasising that learning doesn’t end with acquiring a certificate, he noted that many young Naga degree holders ceased to learn or work, he encouraged the graduates to pursue excellence, work hard and contribute meaningfully to the society.
Although Nagaland is one of the most literate states in the country, Along observed that the literate people in Nagaland are the most ‘unlearning’ people in the nation and asked the graduates ‘do you think by graduating and post-graduating and have diplomas you cease to exist? Or do we cease to exist to learn?’
The graduates were asked to break free from the mindset that education alone guarantees success, instead to seek opportunities, innovate and contribute to the state’s progress with a ‘commitment to self and commitment to the people.’
Emphasising on the importance to remain steadfast and resilient despite the challenges, he maintained that many literate individuals remain unemployed not due to a lack of education, but a lack of willingness to work and learn new skills.
The Minister also urged the graduates to continue learning to accept their personalities and weaknesses as strength to continue moulding oneself through God’s wisdom and by what they have learnt as students.
“You take that as the trajectory, the platform for you to continue learning in the different facets of your life” he stated further adding that it is not by the roads, buildings or the cars that we drive that make one as progressive.
Progressive, he asserted is “the upgradation of the thought process that you and I inculcate to build and continue to be resilient towards it with commitment and patience and by pursuing excellence, not only for self but for everybody.”
“The idea of bringing ourselves down into narrow walls of tribalism, of caste and of selfish endeavour for self alone will not make our state prosperous. We are suffering” stated the Minister while observing that many educated youths joining unions and agitations without clear goals.
“Let us be the people who pray hard, who work hard and who mean well for your fellow friend, for your community. Fasten your hands and legs for things that are achievable and tie your hands and legs for those things that are not only going to make you perish but your community, family and your people also perish” advised the Minister.
Highlighting the good qualities of the Naga people as hospitable, fearless and bold, Along urged them to focus towards the right trajectory with the right attitude and aptitude.
Stating that every person can be taught and every person can learn, he said Nagaland can be an asset for the nation if it channels its strength in the right trajectory where building Nagaland and the nation will not be a difficult journey. Congratulating the students, he urged them to work hard and continue to pursue excellence for each others.
Dr Premila Swamy D, Regional Director informed that Regional Centre at Kohima was established on December 14, 2000 with 32 students which over the years have grown to more than 20,000 students today.
Currently, it has 16 study centres in all the districts except for the newly established districts offering 240 programmes from certificate programmes to post graduate programmes. In 2024, she informed that 3318 learners have enrolled for 94 programmes.
The Minister also gave away the certificates to the graduating students. The programme was also attended by Rajesh Soundararanjan, Commissioner & Secretary, Higher Education and V Lovitoly Sema, Ex-Officio Director Higher Education among others.
