Principals call for more higher education funding in Nagaland

DIMAPUR — The future of higher education in Nagaland requires increased government support and strategic planning, according to college principals at the annual Nagaland College Principals Association (NCPA) conference on Tuesday.

A press release from the association stated that Professor Visakhono Hibo, Principal of Japfu Christian College, called upon Nagaland’s colleges to become stronger advocates for higher education in the state.

Hibo stated that the NCPA is not an “agitating body” and emphasised the need for the association to act as a “sentinel” for higher education, similar to village guards in traditional Naga society. She urged the association to clearly define its role and make the government aware of the needs and importance of colleges.

She emphasised the need for self-reflection within the NCPA, stating, “We need to know who we are, what we are and what we should be doing as an educated body. Bodies like NCPA need to keep our minds in focus on our exact role.” To achieve this, she called for greater government awareness of the colleges’ needs, adding, “We need to contextualise and make the government aware of our importance and needs.”

She also compared funding for colleges in the Northeast to other states in India, pointing out the disparity in government support for faculty. “The government of Nagaland has placed us as grant-in-aid colleges and that enables us to get meagre funding from UGC. But we need to be in the category of aided colleges to be eligible for more funding,” she explained.

She also expressed concern over the perceived “fighting” between government and private colleges, highlighting the need for a broader perspective. “We fight so much for Article 371A, but what about the fight for higher education? What about students from far-flung districts?” she asked, emphasising the need to understand student challenges and become a leading voice in higher education.

She further stressed the importance of healthy competition among Nagaland’s colleges, not just in extracurricular activities, but also in academics, alumni engagement, and placement opportunities, to ensure quality education.

The conference, held at Norman Putsure College and themed “Building a Culture of Excellence: Enhancing Institutional Effectiveness,” also featured a keynote address by Professor Darlando Thanmi Kathing, Vice Chancellor of North Eastern Christian University (NECU).

He began by highlighting that a significant number of Nagaland students are pursuing higher education outside the state—35,000 compared to 33,000 undergraduates studying within Nagaland, according to a previous statement by the Minister of Higher Education. This disparity, he argued, underscores the need for improvement. “We need a lot of good institutions, not only new ones but the existing ones to be supported to build a culture of excellence. We also cannot ignore the globalised world,” he stated.

Kathing focused on identifying areas where higher education can excel and strategies to achieve this. He suggested that while technologically advanced fields like nanotechnology offer potential, they often require substantial investment. Alternatively, Nagaland’s unique environment and history make it well-suited for research in areas like biodiversity, medicinal plants, music, culture, and identity.

“We are very well suited to do research on this in our state. Take students out on a field trip, build on tradition and culture and create a rich repository of data of varied content and information,” he urged.

He also emphasised the importance of a both global and local perspective, and stressed the need for educators to prepare students for the increasingly borderless nature of jobs and education. “We can now go online and pursue courses; if we aren’t aware of that we’ll be left out and our students will seek empowerment from elsewhere,” he said.

While admitting that there are challenges like funding shortages, administrative issues and a lack of qualified talent, he pointed out that there are successful universities and institutes that prioritise interdisciplinary research and self-funding opportunities.

He also highlighted the importance of specific skills for workplace success, including adaptability, communication, teamwork, and leadership, and urged educators to cultivate these competencies in their students. He concluded by encouraging the NCPA to collaborate, strategise, and share resources to build a culture of excellence in higher education.

The second session featured a presidential address by Dr. Vitsosie Vüprü, Principal of Kohima College, Kohima, who expressed gratitude for the ongoing collaboration between NCPA and Nagaland University officials. “We look forward to continued constructive suggestions and to ensure the needs of Colleges in Nagaland are met,” he said.

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