In its representation to Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, NSF said despite polytechnic’s legacy and potential, the institution remains limited to diploma-level education, depriving students from Nagaland of opportunities to pursue technical education within the state
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Thursday submitted a representation to Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio for urgent upgradation of Khelhoshe Polytechnic, Atoizu, Zunheboto, into a full-fledged engineering college.
The NSF in the representation issued by its president, Medovi Rhi, and assistant general secretary, Kenilo Kent, stated that the polytechnic was established in 1972, and has been instrumental in producing highly skilled professionals who have ushered in the development of various government departments, private industries, and allied sectors in Nagaland.
However, NSF said despite polytechnic’s legacy and potential, the institution remains limited to diploma-level education, depriving students from Nagaland of opportunities to pursue technical education within the state and the lack of an engineering college in Nagaland has forced thousands of our youth to seek admission outside the state, leading to immense financial strain on families, brain drain, and a dependency on external institutions.
It is pertinent to highlight that the Nagaland government in its cabinet meeting held on December 17, 2007, had approved the introduction of a Civil Engineering Degree Course at Khelhoshe Polytechnic, Atoizu, Zunheboto, and subsequently passed a resolution for its upgradation to a Degree Engineering College, however, the approved upgradation has not materialized for over a decade.
NSF also furthered that as per the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) guidelines, Polytechnic institutions that have been in existence for at least five years are eligible for upgradation to Engineering Colleges.
“Khelhoshe Polytechnic, having a legacy of over five decades, meets all the necessary criteria set by AICTE for such an upgradation. Additionally, the existing infrastructure and faculty at KPA provide a strong foundation for its transition into an engineering college with minimal additional investment,” NSF said.
In the light of these urgent concerns and decades in lapses, it urged Nagaland CM office to take immediate steps toward implementing the already approved upgradation of Khelhoshe Polytechnic into a full-fledged Engineering College without further delay.