Nagaland Minister of Higher Education and Tourism flanked by officials of the state Higher Education department at the press conference in Dimapur on September 17. (Morung Photo)
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NE states for drafting common NEP 2020 roadmap
Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 17
Nagaland will host the North East Education Conclave on the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 for the first time, Minister for Higher Education and Tourism Temjen Imna Along announced on September 17.
The two-day event, in Chümoukedima, will begin on September 18 under the theme ‘Implementation of NEP 2020: Vision, Challenges & Opportunities for the North Eastern States.’
It will bring together delegations from the NE states, Union Education Ministry officials, university vice-chancellors, and state Education Ministers to discuss execution strategies and constraints.
Addressing a press conference in Dimapur on September 17, Along said the regional conference is being organised alongside the School and Technical Education departments to draw up a common action plan to submit to the Union government.
He pointed to funding ambiguity as a primary concern under the new policy framework.
“The NEP 2020 calls for a significant increase in funding for higher education, school education, technical education. However, it is not clear how the funds will be generated,” he said, stating that states must secure funding without passing an unfair burden onto students.
The Minister also stated that national metrics do not always fit the NE region’s demographic realities. While institutions in other states easily register over 5,000 students, colleges in Nagaland with 1000 to 2000 students are considered large.
He added that while school-level enrolments remain mostly within the state, a large share of Nagaland's gross enrollment ratio in higher and technical education leaves for other parts of the country.
Responding to questions regarding deficits in rural government institutions, Along rejected the view that the policy had failed. He cited improvements in administrative transparency, ongoing polytechnic upgrades, and the planned establishment of an engineering college at Kelhoshe Polytechnic, in Zunheboto. While admitting transport and facility gaps caused by rough terrain and poor roads, he stated that structural changes take time.
Addressing questions on policy setbacks, Secretary for Higher and Technical Education Sarita Yadav, stated that initial hurdles should not be labeled as structural collapse.
“Whenever a policy comes into being, and this is a new policy, we cannot just discard a policy saying that it is a failure. There are challenges,” she maintained, adding that the states intend to approach New Delhi as a collective block rather than as isolated administrations.
Additional Secretary and Ex-Officio Director of Higher Education V Lovitoly Sema said that 36 senior officials from the seven other NE states will present implementation reports from their departments.
She added that between 300 and 400 participants from government and private schools, colleges, and universities across Nagaland will attend the sessions over the 2 days.
Joint Director of Higher Education Dr Medongoi Rhakho said the policy is moving from acceptance into phased execution and review. He noted that the conclave will compile shared regional issues so they can be placed before the Central Advisory Board of Education once it is formally constituted to review the policy.
The conclave will feature parallel plenary sessions covering higher, technical, and school education, with four states presenting each day.
