Y Merina Chishi
Petty issues have often overshadowed the real issues that plague Khelhoshe Polytechnic Atoizu (KPA) for the last 47 years. The oldest technical institute run by the Government of Nagaland has not reached the standard it should have. Instead it very frequently finds itself embroiled in issues that have little to do with education. The poor infrastructure, shortage of teachers or lack of basic amenities have not been on the forefront and it appears that setting up of a separate Directorate for Technical Education has not helped KPA much.
KPA was established in 1972 as the State’s first technical institute offering diploma courses in civil, electrical, automobile and mechanical engineering. The institute is located not in Atoizu (as the name suggests) but in Asukhuto, a small town that falls under the Atoizu assembly constituency. The town has about 250 households with a population of about 1500 people. The institute is situated on beautiful landscape and is an ideal location for an educational institute. In spite of the remote location, KPA has somehow upheld its standards and succeeded in producing many technical officers in our State.
In the last 47 years, the institute has failed to move beyond its present status due to several factors. It has been a long standing demand of the people of Atoizu area to upgrade the institute to a full- fledged engineering college. The initial demands went unheeded. However, sensing the importance of technical education in present times, the demand gained impetus and the government has finally paid heed and the process of upgrading the college is going on. On this front, the public or the area and student bodies in Nagaland must be given credit.
It is better late than never and so the government’s move is well appreciated. But to reach that stage, it has to overcome several hurdles. In spite of being a technical institute, it still lacks modern facilities. Being a technical institute, the students rely heavily on technology for their studies but none of those facilities are available at KPA. This has perhaps been a very big drawback in terms of imparting quality and interactive education.
If the government is serious about setting upgrading KPA, it has to do so with conviction. The government has to have sustained investment in technical education without which quality is compromised.
The institute will be completing 48 years in 2020. An engineering college before its 50th year would certainly be welcomed by all Nagas. The focus right now should be on learning, excellence and improving the technical backwardness of Nagaland. Every educational institute will have its own set of challenges, but these should not come in the way of development that is meant to create better opportunities for the future generation.
Comments can be sent to merinachishi@gmail.com
