Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, Sep. 6 (EMN): Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda on Friday said that challenging prevailing norms and inhibitions; fearless enquiry and a relentless search for answers should be the true objective of education.
The union minister was addressing the Nagaland University silver jubilee event at Ihoshe Kinimi Hall in Lumami campus.
Munda said that sustaining and reinvigorating Higher Education has become a major challenge, especially in public institutions; and transforming the institutions of higher learning into centres of excellence is the key challenge policymakers and academic leaders face.
In this connection, the union minister opined that one way of achieving this is by making everyone a stakeholder.
In the present competitive environment, he said, only those who are properly skilled and trained will achieve success and urged the students not only to graduate with good marks, but also with self-confidence.
“The courage of your conviction should be your true worth as you chart your destiny,” he said.
According to Munda, the onus is on the higher educational institutions, especially the teachers, to prepare their students in a way that they are globally relevant and yet sensitive to the needs of the society they inhabit.
Congratulating the university for attaining 25 years, Munda said that it has been providing opportunities to young men and women to develop their academic skills and become worthy and productive citizens of the country.
He also suggested the university authorities to develop a concept paper on establishing a Centre of Excellence for Tribal Studies that would focus its research and teaching on Tribal Philosophy, Tribal Psychology, Tribal Ethics and Value Systems along with traditional culture studies covering folk music and dance.
“A university is much more than the bricks and mortar with which it is built. A university is its people, the entire community,” he said.
Special guest Temjen Imna Along, Minister for Higher and Technical and Tribal Affairs also spoke at the event. He said that if young NagaS want a robust state, then the people should strive for ‘uncompromising hardworking culture’ and become the contributors the society.
