Need for Nagaland colleges to be NAAC assessed

Dimapur, March 25 (MExN): An Orientation programme on National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) was held at Oriental College, Kohima on March 24, 2012. The programme commenced with Dr. Ketshukietuo Dzüvichü, the principal of Oriental College introducing and welcoming the resource persons. 

Delivering the keynote address, Megono Liegise, Joint Director of the State’s Higher Education and coordinator NAAC Nagaland asserted on the need of the colleges in Nagaland to be NAAC assessed. Highlighting about NAAC, she stated that it is a National programme established by the University Grants Commission to monitor quality education in higher educational institutions. Further, she updated that the National Accreditation Bill is under deliberation in the Indian Parliament which makes it obligatory for every college to be NAAC assessed and accredited. With such stringent law at hand to be enforced to higher educational institutions, it is of utmost importance that the colleges also prepare and apply for it at the earliest. 

Subsequently, Dr. R.K. Behera, Academic Dean (Patkai Christian College), gave a comprehensive talk on the methodology of NAAC assessment. Besides giving directions on the procedures of a college to enroll, he also enlightened the addressees about the benefits of NAAC assessed colleges, the requisite criteria laid down by the NAAC for colleges to be accredited, and the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) in each college and its activities. 

After the theoretical address, Dr. Fr. Abraham, Principal of St. Joseph College, Jakhama gave a practical lecture about the implementation of these criteria by highlighting some of the activities conducted for imparting quality education to the students and capacity-building for the teachers, the new programmes introduced and the strategies they followed. In his talk, he also stressed on the importance of raising the teaching and learning standards. 

As a representative of Nagaland University, Dr. Martina Solo, Associate Professor, Department of Commerce put forward the need of an educational institution to strive for quality education. And for this to be efficiently imparted, the teachers have to not only give their best but also develop themselves so that they can be effective. Each institution must aim to produce quality students who will contribute to the society. And this can only materialize with quality education. 

Finally, the discussion hour was lead by Dr. R.K. Iralu, Principal, B.Ed. College, Mokokchung, whereby queries were raised, deliberated and clarified. The Orientation programme was attended by the administrative staff and the faculty of the college.