IGNOU urged to introduce more courses in higher education

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Feb. 17 (EMN): The 33rd convocation of the Indira Gandhi National Open University, regional centre of Kohima, was conducted on Monday at the Capital Convention Centre.

Education is the only way to enlightening and to opening avenues for students, said additional director of the Higher Education department, Dr. Apeni Lotha during her address at the programme.

Lotha said the university is an internationally recognised university. It has been providing opportunities of learning for many people especially for working people and housewives. It has contributed much to the development of higher education, she said.

The government servant urged the regional centre to introduce more subjects that can cater to the needs of learners. She asserted that there are many people who still want to pursue higher studies.

According to the official, vocational courses such as tourism studies, organic farming, sericulture, poultry farming, beekeeping, healthcare, nutrition and child care will train students to meet the job market and venture into entrepreneurship which she asserted were some of the key points for sustainable development.

Lotha also went to urge the centre to focus on the National Education Policy (NEP) to ensure and facilitate national development.

Likewise, the official asked the learners present at the event to live worthy of their degrees and certificates they have secured, and to contribute in the nation building process in their places and the society in general.

Congratulating the students for successfully completing their study courses, she told the graduates to face the challenges that are ahead with confidence now that they are equipped with knowledge.

The additional director awarded certificates to the graduates from various disciplines ranging from Master’s to Bachelor’s and from diploma to certificate courses.

Earlier, delivering the regional director’s report, Dr. T Iralu presented the details and highlights of the IGNOU’s work. Iralu stated that a total of 820 are graduating at the Kohima regional centre.

The total number of graduates: 447 were of master’s degree, 142 bachelor’s degree, 128 diplomas and 103 certificates for various disciplines of study.  

He said 39 regional centres in the country had convocations on the same day with Kohima being one of them. The director also informed that there are 14 study centres in the state of Nagaland spread across 11 districts.

Further, Iralu stated that a total of 2,31,622 degrees, diplomas and certificates including a few M.Phil and Ph.D. degrees will be conferred on successful students spread all over the country and abroad which includes 90 Ph.D, 19 M.Phil, 91,588 Master’s degree, 81,408 Bachelor’s degree, 41,275 diplomas and 17,253 certificates.