All colleges in state to be NAAC accredited by 2021

Kohima, March 26 (EMN): The department of Higher Education in Nagaland aims to have all the colleges in Nagaland accredited by the NAAC by 2021. This was stated in the annual administrative report 2017-18 of the department which was placed in the assembly on March 26 by minister in charge Temjen Imna Along. According to the report, out of the 64 colleges in Nagaland, 21 colleges have been accredited by NAAC and many have initiated the process of accreditation to progress towards quality and excellence in higher education. The department stated to have initiated the mandatory assessment and accreditation of higher education in conformity with MHRD, UGC and NAAC guidelines, the report stated. The department also reported that in order to make quality the defining element of higher education, it was giving all efforts to ensure quality, access and equity significantly through a combination of self and external quality evaluation, promotion and sustenance initiative along with the rest of the country. Currently, the department is said to be granting assistance in the form of grants-in-aid to private recognized colleges and to a number of other institutions involving an expenditure of INR 2,65,00,000. The objective of grants- in-aid it was stated to provide financial aid to college recognised by the state government for augmentation and quality improvement of higher education in Nagaland. It also acknowledged that private colleges in the state have been contributing hugely towards the growth of education in the state as 75% of the students pursuing studies in higher education are enrolled in private recognized colleges.