Imphal: Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey said education has been recognised as the most important instrument for the social, economic, and political transformation of society.
The governor was speaking at the 36th convocation of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Regional Centre, here.
The governor said a well-educated human resource, equipped with the knowledge and appropriate skills, is vital for economic and social development. She said, in a diverse society like ours, education acts as an integrative force. The need for advanced and quality education has become ever more pressing.
The quality of higher education largely depends on the quality of teaching and research. It is imperative to have quality faculty who will bring about transformation in students and lead them to acquire the right knowledge. Research in our universities must be emphasised and promoted to a great extent, she added.
The governor further said that with the introduction of NEP-2020, there has been a strong movement for imparting education and skilling the youths of the nation. She continued that, with a collective vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme has been launched to facilitate youths of the country to go across states and get in touch with people.
She said with this initiative, people-to-people contact will increase, and students can understand each other’s culture, tradition, attire, food habits, lifestyles, and language, eventually helping them to be perfect in life. The governor asked the IGNOU authorities to initiate this programme. The Governor also reiterated the Prime Minister’s commitment to developing the North East.
Appreciating the contribution of IGNOU to promote open and distance education systems in the country, the governor said, the university has been rendering yeoman’s service by democratising higher education and providing quality education irrespective of age, religion, gender, and region. UNESCO has recognised the university as the largest higher education institute in the world.
The university is offering affordable education to underprivileged students and free education to jail inmates. She continued that IGNOU, Regional Centre in Imphal has also been providing a number of facilities to the students of this state for the last nearly two decades. It has been catering to the educational aspirations of thousands of enrolled students in the state.
Congratulating the students, the governor said education is a privilege and should not be thought of as ending on leaving the portals of the institution. She said students will be building their careers at a time when our country is witnessing significant changes, both economically and socially. She wished the students success in their future endeavours. The governor handed out degrees to the students at the convocation of the university.
Regional Director, IGNOU, Imphal, Dr. Salam Dilan Singh, said, with NEP-2020, IGNOU is playing a major role in education transformation. Student enrollment rates have been increasing from year to year, and almost 20,000 students have been enrolled in Manipur. 1,150 students will receive degrees, diplomas, and certificates at the convocation, he added.
