A section of the participants at the mass rally in Zunheboto Town on March 10, demanding the immediate upgradation of Khelhoshe Polytechnic Atoizu (KPA) into a full-fledged engineering degree college. (Morung Photo)
Mokokchung/Kohima, March 10 (MExN): The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) and the Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) have demanded immediate action from the State Government regarding the upgradation of Khelhoshe Polytechnic Atoizu (KPA) into an engineering degree college.
In a press release, the AKM extended its full support to the demand and conveyed its solidarity with the All Sümi Students’ Union (SKK) on the issue.
It asserted that the first and oldest polytechnic in Nagaland has been neglected since its inception.
The Nagaland Cabinet had already approved its upgradation in 2007, yet the decision remains unfulfilled, exposing a lack of political will to address the state’s technical education needs, it stated.
Due to the absence of a government engineering college in Nagaland, countless students have been forced to seek technical education elsewhere, placing immense financial and emotional burdens on families, it added.
Accordingly, the press release issued by AKM President Lanutoshi Aier and General Secretary Satemmongba termed the continued neglect as unacceptable and said the government must be held accountable for its failure to implement its own decision.
Demanding immediate action on the long-overdue commitment, it cautioned that the student community will not remain silent while Nagaland’s youth continue to be denied their right to technical education.
Meanwhile, in a memorandum to the State Chief Secretary, the ANCSU highlighted its earlier representation on February 28, urging the urgent need to upgrade KPA into a full-fledged engineering college.
However, it expressed dismay over what it described as the “negligence of the State Government in addressing the genuine demand of the student community with the priority it deserves.”
Despite the State Cabinet’s approval on December 17, 2007, the lack of action so far remains a grave concern, stated the ANCSU’s memorandum appended by its President Tenyesinlo Bukh and General Secretary Kivinoka A. Sema.
The continued inaction, even after the peaceful protest initiated by SKK and ANCSU’s representation, demonstrates the State Government’s failure to uphold its commitment towards the educational welfare of students, it added.
In this connection, the ANCSU urged the State Government to promptly take steps to upgrade KPA into an engineering college, cautioning that further delays would invite retaliation and confrontation from the student community.
