IMPHAL, May 8: A two-day National Seminar on Transforming Higher Education in North East India being organized by Thoubal College in collaboration with YK College, Wangjing and Federation of Government College Teachers`™ Association (FEGOCTA) Manipur began today at the Multipurpose Hall of Thoubal College in Thoubal district.
The inaugural function was graced by CAF & PD and Education Minister M Okendro as chief guest; principal of Thoubal College O Chaoba Devi as president; Dean, School of Social Sciences, Manipur University Prof E Binoykumar Singh; Head, Department of Higher and Professional Education, National University of Educational Planning & Administration, New Delhi Prof Sudhanshu Bhushan; principal of YK College, Wangjing Dr S Birahari Singh and president of FEGOCTA L Randhoni Devi as guests of honour.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Okendro stated that the union Budget 2015-16 indicates a shift in focus to higher education but slight increase in allocation in budget will not address the problem facing education especially higher education in the Northeast region.
He said that public spending on education would need to be raised to 6 percent of GDP which is currently around 3.2 to 3.5 percent.
Noting that increase in budget allocation to the required extent has to be matched with educational reforms; the Minister asserted that the curricula in the state with the emphasis on content and the neglect of higher order thinking skills do not help students become creative and critical thinkers.
The rich natural resources and also human resources of the north east are to be re-invented and taped out properly so that the region could play a pivotal role in `look east`™ or `act east`™ ventures, he said.
Okendro informed that the Governor has given assent for the Sangai International University to be come up in Churachandpur district and notification has been issued by the state government on May 5 last.
The assent of the Governor for DM University Bill is awaited. The Project Approval Board of RUSA had already approved the proposed DM University for funding under RUSA with an initial project cost of Rs 55 crores. Two Community Collges, one based at DM College and the other at Churachandpur College have been started functioning very well, the Minister said.
Announcing that recruitment of 285 Assistant Professors for improvement of quality of higher education has been started by MPSC as per UGC norms, he said that the government has already initiated works on setting up of eight new Government Polytechnics after obtaining sanctions from Ministry of HRD, Government of India.
Six polytechnics will be set up in Thoubal, Chandel (Moreh), Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Imphal East and Churachandpur in addition to the earlier sanctions obtained for two polytechnics in Bishnupur and Senapati, he elaborated.
Maintaining that the government is setting up the first Government Engineering College of the state at Heirok, Thoubal with funding from Ministry of HRD under RUSA, Okendro said that process of consultation for a New Education Policy has already been started.
The Minister appealed to the public, student and teaching community in particular to give innovative and genuine suggestions to the framing of the policy.