Young people should not be denied access to higher education:” Dr. Shurhozelie
Chizokho Vero
Pfutsero | June 20
In what may be considered the first of its kind, a record, the Nagaland Government has today formally taken over Pfutsero College, located in a sub-division of the State under Phek district in order to fulfil the long-standing aspirations of the area for providing qualitative education even for those students whose parents cannot afford to send them to the bigger towns in the state not to speak of other states.
Officially declaring the taking over of the college at a function held at the college’s auditorium, Minister for Higher Education and Urban Development Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu said the taking over will be effected from Ist April, 2009, adding that the absorption of employees, such as, teaching as well as non-teaching staff will be on the same pattern as was done in the past when rural colleges were taken over by the government in 2006. “With Pfutsero College on the roll, I have 14 government colleges in Nagaland today, that is, one college for every district with the exception of 2 colleges in Phek district and 3 colleges in the state capital including one college of teachers’ education,” the minister said.
This is to enable students to have sufficient opportunities in pursuit of their higher studies in Nagaland, he said adding that the government has created the facilities and it is for the students to avail these facilities. The parents and teachers should also work hard to motivate the young minds to go for higher studies, he added.
He said that the state follow the National Education Policy and make efforts to achieve various targets and goals set out in the successive plans. Stating that the main thrust in higher education during the present Plan are guided by the goals of greater access, inclusiveness, relevance and valued based education, the minister said “We must see that our young friends are not denied of access to higher education.”
Taking over of Pfutsero College is also one of such steps and we believe that this college can offer opportunity to our youth to march ahead in the field of higher education, he said.
The minister also said that for bringing about quality education, concerted efforts of parents and teachers including all other state holders “is very necessary.”
Dr. Shurhozelie also mentioned that the Nagaland Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) was only 5% during the last plan and stressed on the need to see that the state’s GER is improved at any cost. “Last year, there were 4.75 lakh students in government schools from classes 1-IV but the number had dropped drastically in the Middle Schools level and there were further deterioration in the higher levels,” he said adding that this had resulted in heavy number of school dropouts from one level to the next higher level and “our GER in the higher education remains very low.”
Also speaking on the occasion, State Planning Board (SPB) deputy chairman, Neiba Kronu, observed that Phek tended to lag behind the other districts but he expressed gratitude to the NPF-led DAN Government headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio Government and Dr Shurhozelie who is also President of NPF Nagaland, for approving the first and so far only, the first College in a sub-division in Nagaland. “Not only this, but we must aim to be first in as many things as possible.”
Kronu was the man who was finally instrumental in bringing about to fruition his area people‘s aspirations to run not a mere College but one of excellence as well. He put forth the challenge, “the Government has given us this College. So what can we give back to the Government? Show what you can do so that I am not embarrassed and this College should evolve into an institution of high degree of performances. We talk and talk about development but education is the greatest development.” However, in other social sectors also “we are doing our best.”
MLA Deo Nukhu, emphasised that parents of students in the College should be grateful because henceforth the fees would be reduced and a serious burden lifted while at the same time, their children would be getting better education at lower costs. Accordingly, he advised the students to work harder in order to achieve better results.
Former Minister, L. Mero, recalled that 27 years ago, 31 villages of the area had visions that the students should get a better education on the home ground itself. He lauded the pioneers and founding fathers of this College for untiring efforts to make it come true. He also expressed gratitude to Dr Shurhozelie whom he described as “most respected teacher and adopted godfather of the younger politicians. He disclosed that he was one of the four pioneers who went to Shillong to seek permission from the then Governor who was also the Vice Chancellor, to establish a College at Pfutsero and which received. He also mentioned that successive legislators representing the constituency till date had taken keen interest in furthering the prospects of the College both financially and in kind.
The brief account of Pfutsero College was given by Principal Lalboi T. Singsit while the function was chaired by Phek Deputy Commissioner H. Hangsing. Pfutsero College, established in 1982, lies 74 km away from Kohima.
