Disappointing enrolment in science at Wakching College—Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio 

DIMAPUR — Despite huge investment in infrastructure and facilities for the science stream at Wakching New Model College in Mon, the student enrolment record in the past two years has been disappointing, said Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday.

In the two academic seasons since it was first introduced, the enrolment last year was nil, while only five students have been admitted for this year’s batch, it was informed. The state government has spent a huge amount of money on infrastructure, hostel facilities, and staff quarters, besides creating posts for teaching faculty, grade 4 staff, and others, Rio said.

While expressing hope that more students will enrol for the course, he shared that otherwise it is not viable to run as teachers and staff members are more than the number of students. He reasoned that institutions should be demand-driven.

Conversely, he suggested that Dimapur should have a full-fledged science college because of its huge population and concentration of students from all corners.

Further, he said that the state government is aware of government schools having the best and most qualified teachers but not performing well. “But lately, it is really improving. The government is very happy. And therefore, we should continue to perform,” he added.

He said this after laying the foundation stone for PM-USHA projects at Dimapur Government College (DGC) in the presence of Temjen Imna Along, Minister for Higher Education and Tourism; Mhathung Yanthan, Advisor for Agriculture; CL John, Minister for Forest and Climate Change; and others.

He also inaugurated the new commerce building of DGC and the students’ restroom.

No more contractual teachers

Temjen Imna Along said that the state cabinet has decided to end the practice of appointing contractual teachers.

To the students of DGC, he said that when they pass out from the college, they should not only be seeking government jobs but be skilled and well-trained “not only in moral and disciplinary curriculum, but also in their skills and thought process.”

He also assured that the department is making sure that they will have good classrooms, hostels, and other amenities.

M Kire, State Project Director of Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA), Higher Education, provided a briefing on the projects.

He stated that the department of Higher Education has so far availed and implemented 27 units/projects under various components, benefiting all the government colleges in the state under this scheme.