Bonnie Konyak
Dimapur | October 29
THE INAUGURATION of the Nagaland University School of Engineering & Technology and School of Management Studies today at the Academic Building, Near DC Court junction, Dimapur could be termed as the actualization of one of the dreams of Nagaland Governor K. Shankaranarayanan. However the Governor turned the limelight on the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, heartily congratulating him ‘from the bottom of my (Governor’s) heart and announced generously that it was a day for the Chief Minister. Echoing the very words of Rio from an earlier program the previous day that development is the only answer and for peace to prevail, development is essential; Shakaranarayanan endears himself as a fan of the Nagaland Chief Minister.
As the chief guest of the inaugural, the Governor also expressed his other desire to see a medical college come up in the state. Embarking on the advantages and needs for professional courses in the State, the Governor said that the School of Engineering, Technology and Management, is a step towards introduction of professional education in the university. On the same breath, the Governor said that the institute would be a big challenge for the university and that NU must leave no stone unturned in ensuring quality of education in the school. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that the opening of this school in NU had brought to reality, the long-felt need of the people of Nagaland who had desired to have institutes which would provide technical education within the State.
Rio said the good achievement of students from Nagaland who had gone to study outside proved that the quality of education at the secondary level. However the lack of higher technical institutions in the State had resulted not only in hardship of parents and children but also drained the resources of the State. “This is a proud moment for every citizen of Nagaland…and I am the happiest among them” said Rio.
Minister of Higher Education, Dr Shurhozelie, also present in the function took his time to point out that Nagaland was 159 years behind as compared to the setting up of the first Engineering College in India but optimistically philosophized, “Better late than never”. He briefly touched on the sore point with regard to the 40 acres of land purchased in Kohima for the same college, which had been raised by the Nagaland University Teacher’s Association, Kohima, saying that ‘technical’ reasons had led to the new arrangement. Leaving the door open for campus shifting, the minister said that the adjustments would be made later.
The Vice Chancellor of NU, Professor Kannan also addressed the gathering, quoting the speech made by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1986 at the creation of Nagaland University as a consequence of New Education Policy of 1986 of India. Lamenting the fact that NU had not been able to implement the vision of the Late Prime Minister, Kannan said that the new School of Engineering & Technology and Management would strive hard to implement in letter and spirit the New Education Policy of 1986.
As of now, the School is understood to start with an intake of 20 students each in the four disciplines of B. Tech, namely Computer Science, electronics and information technology, bio-technology and information technology. From next year, the school is set to introduce other 5 disciplines such as agriculture technology, MBBS, Tourism, hotel management, and public health and the intake of the students stepped up to 300 next year from the 80 students this year.
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