Shillong, July 22:

Brief

– KSU writes to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for appointing a new Vice Chancellor for NEHU

– KSU has suggested the name of Prof. Sherwin May Sungoh

– NEHU ranking has fallen from 16 to below 50 in National Institutional Ranking Framework in last 5 years

Full Report

The Khasi Students Union (KSU) has written to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan demanding appointment of a new Vice Chancellor for the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) as well as suggesting the name of Prof. Sherwin May Sungoh for the post.

In a letter to the Union Education Minister on Thursday, the KSU Education Cell chairman, Raymond Kharjana said, “(We) would humbly like to opine the name of Prof. Sherwin May Sungoh as the next Vice Chancellor of North Eastern Hill University who is the only candidate who has been shortlisted for the post of Vice Chancellor from the University.”

He said the reason being so is that the Union is of the opinion that culture and ethos of region should be one of the key considerations in the selection of the new Vice Chancellor.

“She is a person with a background in education and being an experienced educationist yourself, you are very much aware of the challenges the next Vice Chancellor is ought to meet. It is of utmost importance that the local ethos and sentiments be carefully considered considering the adverse situation that has arisen in the past five years,” Kharjana said.

According to him, North Eastern Hill University is the center of education for the State, thus the educational system in the University should lead to advance educational research in the frontiers of educational science and other fields.

“Thus, the Union humbly appeals to appoint at this juncture of the turbulent history of the University a lady since it is natural that as a woman, a mother, an educationist is expected to fulfill the much needed healing touch to the University,” he said.

On the other hand, the KSU leader alleged that over the five years ever since Prof SK Srivastava has taken charge as the Vice Chancellor of the University, the growth and progress of the University has been deteriorating and declining rapidly which is evident from the fact that the ranking of the University has slipped and fallen from rank of 16 to a lowly position of below 50 in the National Institutional Ranking Framework.

“Over the years there has been many protest and agitations against Prof Srivastava from the students, the teachers, the staffs and employees of the University to express their anger and resentment in his incompetence and incapability as a Vice Chancellor to resolve over various matters which has been put forward to him,” he said.

“Allegations have also been made against him for mismanagement of public resources, misguided policies, and lack of academic conferences which is essential in academics perception. He also led to a creation of a caucus of a few favored teachers and staffs who enjoy the patronage of the highest office of NEHU creating a negative atmosphere of nepotism and favoritism in the University,” he added.

The KSU leader stated that it is going to be an absolute herculean task for the next Vice Chancellor of the University to undo all the wrongs that the present Vice Chancellor of the University has made and to bring the University back right on track.