Dimapur, July 13 (EMN): The Naga Students Federation (NSF) has suggested the chief minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio to make it mandatory for all colleges in the state to undergo evaluation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
This suggestion, along with five others, was contained in a representation to the chief minister – a copy of which was made available to the local newspapers on Friday. According to the NSF, the suggestions were the result of ‘educational tours’ to various colleges initiated by the association.
It reasoned that the central government has changed its ‘pattern and mode of funding’ colleges depending on their respective performance. Thus, all colleges should be evaluated by the NAAC ‘in order to account for quality and standard education’, it stated.
Grant-in-aid to private colleges: Till the academic year 2014, it informed, the colleges had been receiving a nominal amount of financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid from the department of Higher Education. But from 2015 the mount had been ‘drastically slashed to a meagre amount (almost 80% reduction of the total amount received in the year 2014), the NSF stated.
It demanded that the government allocate more fund ‘in order to provide for adequate assistance in the form of grant-in-aid to the colleges.’
Assistant professors on contract: “The department has appointed several assistant professors on contract basis in the government colleges however, the salary paid to them in just a meagre amount and taking into consideration the workload and services rendered by the asst. professors, the NSF appeal upon the government to review and enhance the salary,” it stated.
Appointment of assistant professor: The NSF also cited the ‘Cabinet meeting minutes no. CAB-2/2013 dated the 5th July, 2018 on the approval for creation of 110 assistant professor posts in various colleges in the state under the department of Higher Education.’ It demanded all posts to be requisitioned to the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC); and for appointment of said posts, strict adherence to the laid down norms of recruitment should be followed.
Study materials for college library: All government-run colleges in the state do not receive any library materials, according to the NSF. “However, it is a necessity and of utmost relevance for students to refer to study materials from the college library. Therefore, the Federation urge upon the government to adequately supply study materials for the college libraries.”
Bio-metric attendance: Few colleges have introduced bio-metric attendance and it is recommended that the same system be established in all the colleges, the NSF suggested. According to the federation, it improves the efficiency and regularity of the staff in the institutions, and will ensure “No Work, No Pay” in totality.
The NSF requested for a written reply to its office ‘within 20 days on receipt of this representation.’
