Kohima: Nagaland Minister for Higher Education and Tourism, Temjen Imna Along, has called for a shift in the academic landscape, arguing that schooling should be transformative rather than just reformative. During the Institutional Excellence Award event in Dimapur, Along emphasized that education must empower individuals to tackle real-world challenges and contribute to both the state and the nation.
Addressing the audience during the felicitation of NBSE HSSLC top achievers, the minister welcomed the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya to the state. He urged educators to embrace the National Education Policy 2020 to ensure learning creates a tangible societal impact. Along warned that qualifications alone do not guarantee success, stating, "Education systems must evolve to create tangible impact on people and society."
The minister highlighted the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, robotics, and aerospace, noting that these sectors will define the future economy while potentially rendering many current job roles obsolete. He urged teachers to adapt to digital and AI-enabled learning tools to remain effective in this shifting environment. Furthermore, he expressed concern that modern schooling often alienates students from practical skills and traditional livelihoods, such as farming techniques.
Along called on academics to extend their reach beyond the classroom by adopting nearby villages to help address local developmental hurdles. He argued that educated professionals must provide better guidance for sustainable progress in rural areas. Regarding infrastructure concerns raised by the All Nagaland College Students Union about a girls hostel in Jotsoma, the minister clarified that the project relies on Corporate Social Responsibility funding rather than government coffers. He assured stakeholders that his department is actively working with the implementing agencies to ensure the project reaches completion.
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