Meghalaya: Govt to Review Underperformance of Universities After NEHU Misses Spot in Top 100 NIRF Rankings 2024

Gauhati University had the best rank in the Northeast, securing the 40th spot, followed by Tezpur University (69th), and Mizoram University (77th)

The Meghalaya government is set to review the underperformance of its universities after North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong failed to figure in the top 100 National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024 list.

State Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma announced that a review meeting will be convened shortly after Independence Day. This meeting will involve vice-chancellors from both private and central universities in Meghalaya, including NEHU. The primary focus of the discussion will be to assess the current state of higher education in the state, identify areas where the institutions are underperforming, and develop strategies for improvement.

Speaking to Northeast Live, Rakkam A Sangma said, “We will hold a review meeting to discuss the New Education Policy and other important issues with the vice chancellors of state universities, including Northeastern Hill University. This meeting will allow us to assess the situation and identify areas where we need to improve.”

Addressing concerns regarding the impact of past agitations at NEHU on its ranking, Sangma acknowledged the importance of maintaining a conducive learning environment. He noted that though NEHU has seen fewer protests in recent years, fostering a competitive academic mindset remains essential, especially in a tribal state like Meghalaya.

“There have been very few protests in recent years. We need to establish a supportive and positive environment for students to learn. When students are studying, they should be able to focus. I suggest that young students develop a competitive mindset; only then can we make progress. In this age of science and technology, students have no excuse. Everything we need is just a few clicks away, including books, classes, and any information.”, Sangma said.

Sangma also defended the quality of education in Meghalaya, asserting that it is at par with the national standard. He pointed out that discrepancies in rankings might be due to factors like infrastructure, which could have given other universities an edge. However, he emphasized that classroom teaching is the core of educational quality.

The minister highlighted the efforts of the state education commission in improving higher education and expressed optimism that with the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) and the potential introduction of new departments at NEHU, the university’s future rankings could see significant improvement.

“It’s important to note that the education quality is not deteriorating, but there is always room for improvement. With the implementation of the New Education Policy, the universities in the Northeast may require some time to gain momentum. Regarding the quality of education, I believe we are among the best. Our universities have highly qualified professors and teaching staff. While our universities may lack some basic facilities and infrastructure, we cannot say that the quality of education is declining. Additionally, the potential addition of new departments at NEHU could enhance the university’s performance in future rankings”, Sangma added.

It needs to be mentioned that NEHU, which was once considered the premier educational institute in the Northeastern region, has failed to secure a spot in the top-100 universities of the country, according to the rankings released on Monday.

Gauhati University had the best rank in the Northeast, securing the 40th spot, followed by Tezpur University (69th), and Mizoram University (77th).

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