The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) on November 15 outlined a series of unresolved concerns affecting students in government colleges and polytechnic institutes, urging the State government to address long-pending demands without further delay.
Speaking to the media, ANCSU president, Tenyesinlo Bukhsaid the Union was compelled to once again place its collective concerns before the authorities, as several issues repeatedly raised over the years continued to remain unattended.
Highlighting the rapid rise of private coaching institutes in the State due to increasing competition in national-level examinations, Bukh said ANCSU had submitted representations to the government in 2021, and again in 2024 and 2025, seeking a regulatory mechanism to govern their functioning.
He maintained that while the Union acknowledged the valuable services provided by these institutes and believed they deserved recognition and grant-in-aid support, the absence of a clear regulatory framework remained a matter of concern.
According to him, coaching centres should be registered under an appropriate authority and monitored under proper educational guidelines for transparency and accountability.
Bukh expressed dissatisfaction that the State government had not acted on the matter despite repeated appeals.
Lack of drivers affecting college transportation
On transportation issues, Bukh pointed out that although buses had been provided to government colleges in phases, the absence of appointed drivers had compelled institutions to engage private drivers. He said this had led to increased financial burden for students, particularly those from economically weaker backgrounds.
He noted that the Union had submitted a reminder to the government on June 5, 2025, but no response had been received. Similar shortages had also been observed in polytechnic institutes, where both drivers and buses were inadequate.
ANCSU urged the government to appoint drivers through proper recruitment procedures and improve transport facilities across all higher and technical institutions.
Concerns over appointment of Director of Higher Education
Addressing the ongoing concerns related to the Higher Education Department, Bukh said the department was currently functioning under an ex-officio director, contrary to provisions of the Nagaland Higher Education Service Rules, 2015. He said ANCSU had, through a representation dated September 4, 2024, appealed to the government to refrain from treating the post as a political appointment.
According to the Service Rules, promotion or placement to the post of Director should be made from among additional directors or principals based on merit-cum-seniority. Bukh clarified that the Union’s opposition was not directed at any individual but was aimed at ensuring that appointments adhered to laid-down norms. He added that deviation from the rules affected the morale of cadre officers and teaching faculty, indirectly impacting the student community.
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Seeking balance between engineering graduates and diploma holders
On issues concerning students of polytechnic institutes, Bukh said the Union had submitted a representation on October 24, 2025, calling for a balanced ratio in recruitment to the post of junior engineer. ANCSU proposed that a 60:40 quota be maintained between engineering graduates and diploma holders.
He pointed out that many students enrolled in diploma courses due to financial constraints and the absence of a government engineering degree institute in the State, and therefore equal opportunity needed to be ensured.
Bukh further said the Union had also appealed to the government to revisit NPSC’s age criteria, as diploma students who complete their course at 19 years of age are forced to wait two additional years to become eligible for State civil service examinations.
Push for fully functional Scholarship Nodal Cells
On scholarship management, Bukh recalled that the State Cabinet had approved the establishment of a dedicated nodal cell in June 2019. ANCSU had reiterated the need for operationalising the cell on August 15, 2025, and later issued an ultimatum. Following this, the government held a meeting on September 10, 2025, and adopted a resolution.
He said the Union expected all implementing scholarship agencies to comply with the resolution by deputing officials to the Higher Education Department and submitting scholarship guidelines in both hard and soft copies. He noted that States such as Mizoram and Meghalaya had well-functioning scholarship nodal cells and that Nagaland too must operationalise its own to ensure smooth monitoring and processing of scholarship matters.
