First private university of Arunachal to function from July

Itanagar: The first private university in Arunachal Pradesh would start functioning from next month in Ziro, the headquarters of Lower Subansiri district.

Chief Minister Nabam Tuki would formally inaugurate the private university named 'Indira Gandhi Technical and Medical Sciences University, official sources said here.
     
The first private university of the state being set up under the Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) mode is the outcome of the Act passed by the State Legislative Assembly in March this year.
    
Chancellor of the University P R Trivedi along with Director Arvind Kumar Das called on the chief minister at his office here last evening and informed him of the proposed inaugural function that would commemorate the Dree celebrations as all the formalities including placement of the endowment fund of Rs 3 crore have been completed in accordance with the Act.
    
Further a site measuring 150 hectares has been acquired for establishment of the university, which has been donated voluntarily by the villagers of Hong in the picturesque Apatani valley, they informed Tuki.
    
Interacting with the chief minister, Trivedi requested him to facilitate adoption of the Ziro District Hospital by the University under a joint-venture project with a view to strengthen the cause of rural and urban medical facilities.

Trivedi informed that the University has decided to immediately launch bachelors and masters degree programmes in the fields of medical laboratory technology, nursing optometry, radiology, imaging technology, hospital management,
hotel management, catering technology, Information Technology, business administration and disaster management.
    
There are also plans to launch the first batch of Bachelors and Masters degrees (BTech and MTech) in hydro-electric and power engineering from the next academic session. The University has already submitted its proposal for starting MBBS course to the Medical Council of India (MCI) for approval.
    
On a query of the chief minister, Trivedi assured that maximum benefit will percolate down to the locals by way of employment as well as technical education.
    
Tuki appreciated the promptness of the University authorities in clearing the formalities as per the norms laid down in the Act and expressed optimism that the university will fill the void of lack of technical education within the state. 

Centre assures Arunachal of quality training institute

Itanagar: Centre has assured Arunachal Pradesh of setting up of District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) in remaining districts besides establishment of more Block Level Teacher Education Institutions (BLTEI) in the state to make qualified teachers.
 
This assurance was given by secretary, HRD ministry Anshu Vaish when states Education Minister Bosiram Siram called on her and Additional Secretary (MHRD) Amita Kaul in New Delhi, official sources said here.
 
Siram acknowledged the ministrys support to Arunachal Pradesh for development of education sector. He also appreciated chief minister Nabam Tuki for clearance of state matching share in a phase wise manner to avoid delay in quality delivery of services as well as release of central share against national flagship programmes of the department.
 
During the meeting, the departmental initiative for working out modality to meet up state matching share was also discussed, sources informed.
 
On the issue of granting recognition to four different private colleges offering BEd courses, Siram sought interference of the ministry to enable those colleges to start courses from the next session for which the ministry assured to initiate action at the earliest, the sources said. 

Teachers under SSA to get salary in Arunachal

Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh government has released an amount of over 98 crore for paying the salary of teachers serving under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). 
 
"The arrears from May last year to March this year has been released and will be paid to the teachers soon," Education Minister Bosiram Siram informed during a function at Pasighat in East Siang district yesterday, official sources said.
 
Sources said that as per the new salary slab, Junior Teachers (JT) working under SSA would get Rs 26, 543 per month while Assistant Teachers (AT) would draw a salary of Rs 21,175 which, is almost at par with a regular teacher's salary.
 
Earlier JT and AT teachers under SSA were drawing Rs.8, 500 and Rs 7,500 respectively.
 
Siram also informed that the government would ensure timely release of the salary of SSA teachers which had been the long standing demands of the teaching community, sources said. 

Education to take big leap in Arunachal: Governor

Itanagar: Calling for more investment in higher education sector, Arunachal Pradesh Governor Gen (Retd) J J Singh said that the education scenario in the state is poised to take a significant jump in the coming years.

“The need of the hour is to go for a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach in the higher education sector for development of human resources,” the governor said during the 11th convocation of the Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) at Rono Hills near here.

The governor, who is also the chief Rector of the central varsity, said it was established in 2007 as a state university with the nomenclature of Arunachal University.

“Today 18 colleges are affiliated to RGU with many more colleges to be affiliated if we go by the plans of the state government,” he said.

The Arunachal Institute of Tribal Studies a branch of the varsity is particularly noted for its research works. The University has kept a record of holding all its examinations on time, he said.

Touching on academic issues, the governor called for implementation of semester system in colleges and asked the teachers to be to be innovative and dynamic.

RGU chancellor Mrinal Miri in his address, while making remarks on education said that the special value of education lies in the fact that it is a process that is aimed at the enhancement of the person.

RGU vice chancellor David R. Syiemlieh said the university had made visible impact on the lives of many and would continue to radiate its influence in the days ahead.