KPA upgrade: Advisor Temjenmenba confident of finding a solu
KPA upgrade: Advisor Temjenmenba confident of finding a solution
Department of Technical Education held a meeting headed by Advisor of Technical Education, Temjenmenba along with other officials regarding the Khelhoshe Polytechnic Atoizu
Temjenmenba speaking to the media on Monday. (EM Images)
KOHIMA — Against the backdrop of the demand
for upgrade of Khelhoshe Polytechnic Atoizu (KPA) into a full-fledged
engineering degree college, spearheaded by the All Sumi Students' Union (SKK),
the Department of Technical Education held a meeting with stakeholders on
Monday.
The meeting took place at the Directorate of Technical
Education (DTE) in Kohima, headed by Advisor of Technical Education,
Temjenmenba, along with Commissioner & Secretary for Higher & Technical
Education, Rajesh Soundararajan, Director of DTE, Vipulhou Lhoungu, and other
officials.
The meeting was attended by NLA Deputy Speaker Toiho Yeptho,
Picto Shohe, MLA, and representatives of SKK and the Naga Students’ Federation
(NSF), among others.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Temjenmenba
said, “We had a threadbare discussion on all the issues, and we placed the
government's decision on the table. They (student bodies) have understood the
issue.”
Though the meeting ended on a positive note, “since some of
their colleagues could not attend, they have decided to go back, discuss the
matter, and come back to us,” he informed.
“I am sure they will agree to the terms and conditions we
discussed. I hope that together we can find a solution to the problems ahead of
us,” the advisor said and exuded hope that the student community will also be a
part of the government's solution.
Stopping short of disclosing the details of the government's
proposals, he however maintained that a final decision is yet to be taken. He
also informed that the students were invited to meet officials of the All India
Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in Delhi.
The meeting with the AICTE would allow the students to
understand the problems and the pros and cons of their demands. “We want them
to be part of the negotiation process to understand the problem the government
is facing,” he added.
Acknowledging the Cabinet decision dating back to 2007,
Temjenmenba maintained that the department initially found it difficult to
secure the requisite fund to start the institution.
He said the department approached multiple ministries,
including the Ministry of Education, DoNER, and other funding agencies, but had
not received any positive response from them so far.
On the department’s acute financial constraints, he said
that Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio has agreed to allocate the requisite funds
to the department.
“We are very positive that whatever the students are
demanding and whatever the government is contemplating to do will lead to a
solution,” he added.
The advisor also said that the student representatives had
informed the department official that they would revert within the next two
days, after which further discussions would take place.
The timeline for the proposed meeting with AICTE officials
would be determined following the response of the student representatives, the
advisor said.
