All Nagaland College Students’ Union urges govt to fulfill long-pending demands

The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) on Saturday renewed several long-pending demands concerning students of government colleges and polytechnic institutes, calling on the State government to take urgent corrective measures. Addressing a press conference at its office in Solidarity Park, Kohima, ANCSU president Tenyesinlo Bukh said the issues highlighted were not new but had remained unresolved despite repeated representations.
Regulation of private coaching institutes: Bukh said the mushrooming of private coaching centres in Nagaland-though beneficial to many students-required proper oversight. He recalled that ANCSU had submitted representations in 2021, 2024 and again in 2025, urging the government to introduce a regulatory mechanism. The Union proposed that all coaching centres be registered under a competent authority, follow standard guidelines, and be granted recognition, with the possibility of grant-in-aid based on performance. He lamented that the government had “paid no heed” to the matter, forcing the Union to voice its resentment.
Need for bus drivers in colleges and polytechnics: The Union also raised concerns over the absence of appointed bus drivers in government colleges, even though buses had been provided in phases. As a result, institutions were hiring private drivers, leading to increased fees and additional financial burden on students. ANCSU had reminded the government of the issue on June 5, 2025, but received no response, Bukh said. Similar shortages were reported in polytechnic institutes, which lacked both drivers and adequate buses. The Union urged the government to initiate proper recruitment of drivers and ensure reliable transportation services across all institutions.
Appointment of Higher Education director as per service rules: ANCSU reiterated its opposition to treating the post of Director of Higher Education as a political appointment. Bukh said the department was currently under an ex-officio director, despite the Nagaland Higher Education Service Rules, 2015, prescribing that the post be filled through placement or promotion from among additional directors or principals based on merit-cum-seniority. The Union, in a representation dated September 4, 2024, had urged the government to adhere strictly to these rules. Bukh stressed that the issue was not personal but institutional, warning that deviation from service norms was demoralising the cadre and impacting students. ANCSU demanded the appointment of a full-fledged director in accordance with the rules.
Graduate-diploma ratio and NPSC age criteria: Highlighting concerns in the engineering sector, Bukh noted that the State lacks a full-fledged government engineering degree institute, pushing many students to pursue diploma courses due to financial constraints. The Union, in an October 24, 2025 representation, urged the government to maintain a 60:40 ratio between engineering graduates and diploma holders for junior engineer posts. While appreciating efforts to promote skill-oriented education, ANCSU said the policy needed review to protect diploma students’ interests.
ANCSU also sought revision of NPSC age criteria, pointing out that diploma students-who complete their course by age 19-are compelled to wait two additional years to meet the lower age limit, discouraging many from applying.
Activation of scholarship nodal cell: On scholarship management, Bukh said the State Cabinet had in June 2019 approved the creation of a scholarship nodal cell but its activation remained pending. ANCSU said it reiterated the demand on August 15, 2025 and later issued an ultimatum, prompting a government meeting on September 10, where a firm resolution was adopted. ANCSU urged all implementing agencies to comply by deputing officials and submitting scholarship guidelines in hard and soft copies to the nodal cell. A fully functional cell, he said, was essential to streamline processing, prevent administrative lapses and ensure student welfare.