Office bearers of the Naga People’s Front (NPF), Zunheboto 35 Assembly Constituency, on Tuesday visited the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) Centre, Zunheboto, and expressed serious concern over the acute shortage of basic infrastructure and essential facilities at the institute.
During the inspection, the NPF team observed several shortcomings, including inadequate electricity and water connectivity. The ceiling of the administrative building was found to be in a deteriorating condition, with rainwater reportedly seeping into rooms during rainfall, raising concerns over the safety and functionality of the premises.
According to DIET officials, the institute has a sanctioned intake capacity of 50 students for its two-year pre-service teacher training course. However, enrolment has witnessed a steady decline, with only nine students enrolled in the current academic session compared to 20 students last year. The next academic session is scheduled to begin in August.
Although the institute has separate hostels for boys and girls, both facilities remain unused due to the absence of basic amenities such as electricity, water supply, and essential infrastructure. The lack of appointed wardens for the hostels was also highlighted as a major issue. Owing to the underutilisation of hostel facilities, furniture from the hostels is currently being used in the institute’s library, which itself has limited learning resources and books and was reportedly established through contributions from staff members.
The DIET authorities informed that the institute shifted to its newly constructed building only last year after nearly 12 years of prolonged construction delays. Before relocating, the institute functioned from rented premises. Despite moving into the new facility, the Centre continues to face severe operational challenges.
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Students from distant areas reportedly face transportation difficulties, as commercial vehicles do not operate regularly in the area. The institute is located some distance away from the town, and the approach road remains underdeveloped. The use of the same access road by nearby residents was also raised as a security concern.
At present, the Centre relies mainly on solar power. While an electricity connection from the concerned department exists, it was stated to be inadequate for the institute’s requirements, severely affecting daily functioning. Additionally, the DIET Centre is facing manpower shortages, with only 13–14 faculty members, including the Principal and Vice Principal, along with over 20 non-teaching staff. There is one staff quarter building on campus, which is currently occupied by a single staff member.
Meanwhile, two batches under the Hindi group are scheduled to commence on February 17 as part of the ongoing two-year pre-service teacher training programme.
Background
The DIET Centre in Zunheboto was initiated in 2012 by late MLA KC Nihoshe. However, construction remained stalled for several years, leaving the project incomplete. The work was later revived during 2021–2022 under KT Sukhalu, the then Advisor for School Education and SCERT. Although the building is now nearing completion, the institute continues to struggle due to the lack of essential utilities such as electricity and water, without which effective teacher training programmes cannot be conducted.
