Kohima: The long-standing call for the Khelhoshe Polytechnic, Atoizu (KPA), to be elevated to a full-fledged engineering college has once again taken center stage, as stakeholders across Nagaland push for swift government action. A renewed appeal, formally submitted to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, underscores the institution’s historical significance and its crucial role in producing skilled professionals since its inception in 1972.
The core of the issue lies in the institution’s current diploma-level status, which forces aspiring engineers to seek higher education outside the state. This not only imposes a significant financial burden on families but also fuels a concerning trend of brain drain, as talented individuals leave Nagaland for better opportunities. The petitioners pointed to a Nagaland Cabinet decision dating back to December 17, 2007, which had initially approved the introduction of a Civil Engineering Degree Course at KPA, followed by a resolution for its complete upgradation. However, these decisions have remained unrealized for over a decade.
The petitioners emphasized that KPA fulfills all the necessary criteria mandated by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for such an upgrade. Institutions with a minimum of five years of operational history are eligible to transition into engineering colleges, and KPA, with its five-decade legacy, already possesses the required infrastructure and faculty. This makes the transition feasible with minimal additional investment.
Describing the ongoing delay as a significant setback for Nagaland’s technical education sector, the petitioners urged the government to immediately implement the previously sanctioned upgradation plan. They stressed that this move would not only benefit aspiring engineers but also play a vital role in boosting the state’s economic development and fostering self-reliance in technical education. With the growing concern over the absence of an engineering college in Nagaland, the government is facing increasing pressure to honor its commitments and address the higher education needs of the state’s youth.
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