MOKOKCHUNG — Fazl Ali College (FAC), Mokokchung district, has officially become a multi-disciplinary institution, making it one of the few in Nagaland to offer programmes in Arts, Science, and Commerce.
The milestone was marked by the inauguration of a new building for Commerce stream and the foundation laying of a new academic building at the FAC campus on September 20.
Temjen Imna Along, Minister of Higher Education and Tourism, presided over the ceremony in the presence of V Lovitoly Sema, Joint Secretary of Higher and Technical Education (H&TE) and ex-officio Director of Higher Education, along with government officials and civil society leaders.
The new academic building is funded under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) scheme.
During his address, Along noted that Fazl Ali College has now joined the likes of Dimapur Government College as a multi-disciplinary institution and revealed plans for another model college in Tuli, also located in Mokokchung district.
He assured the college authorities that an incomplete building on the campus would be finished before the next rainy season and that the newly funded PM-USHA project would be completed within the stipulated timeline, not exceeding six years.
The minister also expressed his appreciation for FAC’s role in providing holistic and progressive education, lauding the college for becoming a pioneering institution that fosters academic growth.
Along reiterated the Department of Higher Education’s commitment to making Nagaland a leading hub for higher education in the nation, emphasising that the department aims for the state’s institutions to deliver the best output in human resources.
He urged all stakeholders to take responsibility for the state's progress, emphasising that positive change must result from collective efforts.
Along also reflected on the need for self-accountability, urging stakeholders to refrain from blaming others for the challenges facing the state and to focus on working towards constructive change. He highlighted the critical role of education in determining the prosperity of a state or nation.
Along noted that the prosperity of the state and nation is primarily determined by the quality of the people, emphasising that educational institutions like FAC must focus on imparting not only academic knowledge but also the values and vision necessary for personal and societal development.
Short speeches were also delivered by Lovitoly, the principal of FAC, and the president of Ao Senden.
The newly established commerce stream is set to commence in the 2025 academic session. The project began in 2015 and was completed in 2021.