The National Institute of Technology, Mizoram held its third convocation program at the Mizoram University Auditorium on Thursday.
A total of 90 pupils were presented their graduation certificates where 74 were B.Tech graduates, 14 passed out with degrees in M. Tech and 2 were conferred Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
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Professor Anil D Sahasrabudhe, chairman of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) was the chief guest of the convocation programme.
He delivered the convocation address where he challenged the students to make India become an education hub where students from foreign countries come for their further studies instead of Indians going to foreign countries for their further education.
He said he hopes the institution will soon get its required campus facilities and not have to further reside in rented premises.
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The chief guest spoke of his love for Mizoram saying it was the first state where he came to conduct entrance examinations for the Northeast Regional Institute of Science and Technology in the year 1987.
He commented on the State’s educational progress saying while it has the highest literacy rate there are no good technical institutions.
Sahasrabudhe commended the NIT Mizoram Director and his associates for conducting free coaching classes to help the region develop in the field of Science which he said is the major challenge of the institute.
Biaktluanga, IAS, commissioner and secretary, Higher and Technical Education was the guest of honour at the convocation programme.
He advised the students not to measure their worth by the number of degrees but rather by their contribution to society.
Out of the 90 graduates, only 15 were students from Mizoram with the state only managing to fill 10 per cent out of the 50 per cent state capacity that is reserved for the home state.
Professor Rajat Gupta, director of NIT Mizoram said this problem could be because many local students cannot clear the joint entrance examination which is composed of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
“Realizing this issue, I have started free coaching classes for prospective students so they can master in these subjects,” he said.
“The objective of NIT establishment is that 50 per cent should be home state quota. When I did the analysis I found that home state quota is lying vacant. Home state students only took up 15, 18 or 19 out of 75,” he added.
“I clearly feel that Science education should be strengthened right from high school in Mizoram and we are ready to contribute wherever our help is required,” he further said.
NIT Mizoram which is currently functioning in rented premises has hostels in Durtlang and Tanhril which are around 11 kilometers apart. The academic building is located in Chaltlang.
A location has been proposed near Lengpui airport for which the institution is currently waiting for approval of the detailed project report (DPR).