Kohima: Nagaland hosts the inaugural North East Education Conclave starting September 18. The two-day event takes place in Chümoukedima. Attendees will focus on the theme: Implementation of NEP 2020: Vision, Challenges & Opportunities for the North Eastern States.
Minister for Higher Education and Tourism Temjen Imna Along confirmed the summit on September 17. Delegations from across the region, Union Education Ministry officials, and university vice-chancellors are gathering to build a common roadmap. They plan to submit this unified action plan to the Union government. Funding remains the biggest hurdle.
The policy demands more money for schools and colleges, but the path to cash is murky. Along warned that states cannot dump these costs onto students. He also noted that national metrics ignore regional realities. Colleges in Nagaland are considered large with 1,000 to 2,000 students, while schools elsewhere boast enrollments exceeding 5,000. Many students still leave the state for higher education.
Despite poor infrastructure and transport issues, officials dismissed claims that the policy is a failure. Improvements in administrative transparency and ongoing polytechnic upgrades remain priorities. A new engineering college is also planned for Kelhoshe Polytechnic in Zunheboto.
Secretary for Higher and Technical Education Sarita Yadav defended the policy against critics. "Whenever a policy comes into being, and this is a new policy, we cannot just discard a policy saying that it is a failure. There are challenges," she said. States will present their cases as a collective block.
Additional Secretary V Lovitoly Sema expects 36 senior officials from seven neighboring states to present departmental reports. Between 300 and 400 participants will represent local institutions. Joint Director Dr. Medongoi Rhakho confirmed the goal is moving from theory to execution. The team will compile regional issues for the Central Advisory Board of Education.
Updated at 18th September 2026 at 10:00am
The event will take place at Naga United village. Along stressed that the state needs to pour investment into physical growth, specifically by building more colleges and universities to expand institutional capacity. Beyond the budget, organizers plan to use the summit to hammer out a framework for mentoring institutions and providing them with direct management training and capacity-building support.
The conclave will feature parallel plenary sessions. Four states are scheduled to present their specific case studies each day.
Updated at 18th September 2026 at 2:00pm
The summit is held at the JP Park and Banquets in Naga United village. Beyond the funding debate, organizers intend to use these sessions to hammer out a framework for mentoring local institutions, specifically focusing on providing them with direct management training and capacity-building support.
Along pushed for a shift toward tangible physical growth. He called for state investment to build new colleges and universities to boost institutional capacity. The agenda includes parallel plenary sessions covering higher, technical, and school education, with four states scheduled to present specific case studies each day.
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