The Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Government of Manipur, organised the seventh session of its “Meet the Press” programme at the DIPR Auditorium, Nityaipat Chuthek, Imphal, today.
The session featured officials of the Directorate of University and Higher Education (DUHE), Government of Manipur, who highlighted the initiatives and achievements of the Higher Education Department. The officials also reviewed the progress of the Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS) and various projects being implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) to strengthen higher education institutions across the State.
Speaking on the occasion, L. Radhakanta, Director, Directorate of University and Higher Education, Government of Manipur, stated that the State has 51 Government and Government-aided colleges providing undergraduate education. He informed that the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP) under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has been implemented across colleges, introducing multidisciplinary learning, multiple entry and exit options, and Honours programmes in 25 Government colleges, including Honours with Research in 6 colleges.
He further highlighted that out of 2,376 sanctioned teaching posts, 785 remain vacant. Recruitment of 430 Assistant Professors through the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) is at an advanced stage, while approval has also been accorded for the recruitment of 225 additional Assistant Professors to strengthen higher education institutions in the State.
The Director also informed that stand-alone B.Ed. colleges will be phased out by 2030 in line with NEP 2020, while the Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) will be introduced in selected institutions, with additional colleges expected to implement the programme from the 2028-29 academic session after obtaining approval from the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
He further said that infrastructure development is being undertaken under the College Development Mission, with works in 20 colleges largely completed and another 14 colleges to be covered in the next phase. Around Rs. 50 crore has been earmarked for improving college infrastructure. He also stressed the need to improve student attendance through a proposed biometric and AI-based monitoring system and announced plans to create clusters of nearby colleges for sharing faculty, laboratories, libraries and other resources, with the long-term objective of building stronger and more autonomous higher education institutions in Manipur.
The session was also attended by Bhungba Maibam, Additional Director, DUHE; Dr. W. Robindro Singh, OSD, DUHE; and H. Oma, Financial Advisor, DUHE, Government of Manipur.
