Shillong, April 7: The Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association (MCTA) today held its 32nd biennial general conference at St. Edmund’s College here.

In his inaugural address, NEHU vice-chancellor Prof. S.K Srivastava urged the college teachers to rise up and build, to meet the demands of the society pertaining to higher education.

Stating that changes are taking in the sphere of higher education, he said, “it is imperative for the teachers to strive for excellence in higher education.”

Informing about the development of community colleges in the state, Prof Srivastava stressed that vocational education is the need of the hour especially to solve the issue of unemployment and employability faced by the youth.

 He also suggested change in the academic calendar by keeping in mind the outcome with regards to students’ movement.

 All India Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organizations (AIFUCTO) national secretary, Prof Biswajit Bhuyan, and AIFUCTO zonal secretary (North East),

Prof M. Lokendro Singh, both asked MCTA as an association to form a strong bond with the national teachers organisation to fight for the rights of the teachers and for furthering the development of higher education.

 Principals of various deficit and adhoc colleges of the state, including special invitees from the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education, former Presidents and former General Secretaries of MCTA, retired colleagues, members of M.C.T.A from the different units were present on the occasion.

 On the occasion, retired teachers of the association were also felicitated