• All 15 government colleges covers under RUSA
• Post graduate courses now at Kohima Sc College
• New Model Degree College at Wakching
KOHIMA, APRIL 10 (MExN): The first meeting of the Nagaland State Council for Higher Education (NSCHE), Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) was held at the Chief Minister’s Office Chamber on April 7.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister of Nagaland & Chairman, NSCHE (RUSA), Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu said that education started very late in the state but however maintained that we have also made very good progress in the education sector. Referring to the 15 government colleges that are under RUSA program, he said that many of these colleges are still very young but added that, “we are lucky that we have this program to cover all these 15 colleges for infrastructure development, for improvement of the colleges in different ways.”
In the meantime, he noted that, “we are still lagging behind in the education sector” and emphasized that there are so many rooms for improvement. “The credit for the achievement we have made so far goes to those of you working in the department, for your time and energy,” he said. He impressed upon that with the new funding pattern, the state budget has become very small and therefore now we have to depend on the centrally sponsored schemes heavily. He urged the departments “to judiciously spend the money for the project for which it is meant.”
Dwelling on the importance of RUSA, Parliamentary Secretary for Higher & Technical Education, Deo Nukhu highlighted the features of RUSA and said that it was implemented in the Higher Education as a flagship program after the successful implementation of SSA and RMSA.
He said Nagaland does not have a state university so far but informed that, there are 13 government general degree colleges and 2 colleges of teacher education, covered by the RUSA scheme.
He said that UGC has granted autonomous status to Kohima Science College (Autonomous), Jotsoma with the permission to run post graduate courses and accordingly, the college has started the first batch of M. Sc courses in 6 subjects in the last academic session of 2016-17 while the second batch of M. Sc will start in this academic session 2017-18.
In the meantime, he informed that the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has sanctioned a New Model Degree College (science stream) in the educationally and economically backward district of Mon and the work is in good progress at Wakching.
Further, the Nukhu said that he will be presenting two new proposals at the upcoming National Mission Authority meeting at Delhi scheduled to be held on April 17, 2017. They include setting up of a centralized library with computer centre, digitization of college libraries with RIFD technology and internet connectivity in 16 RUSA beneficiary institutions, and seeking the approval to start an engineering college in the state. He also informed that the MHRD has agreed to sanction the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) in the state on a basis of 100% central assistance.
Earlier, State Project Director, RUSA, Menuokholie Kire gave a power point presentation on physical and financial progress of the ongoing RUSA projects. He also highlighted the fund/project monitoring systems through Geo-Tagging/ GIS Mapping, Public Financial Management System (PFMS), and online RUSA Fund Tracker.
The meeting was chaired by Secretary for Higher & Technical Education, R. Asenla Keitzar, IAS and also delivered the welcome address. Director of Higher Education, I. Alempokba, who proposed the vote of thanks, also emphasized on the quality of education and not the growing number of institution and further called for upgrading and uplifting higher education in the state.
