Chief Minister Mr. Zoramthanga inaugurated Ph.D and M.Phil study courses at the Institute of Advanced Studies in Education (IASE) in Republic Veng, Aizawl yesterday. He also inaugurated a wheelchair accessible lift installment constructed under Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan at the same institute.

The Chief Minister in his speech talked of state's economic development policy and how education and healthcare services are given priority. He congratulated the IASE for opening new doors for development of the scholastic mind by offering advanced studies. He stated his hope that this will not only increase opportunities for bright youngsters to further their academic careers but also create educated minds who will ultimately be the backbone of the economy.

The inaugural function was chaired by Mr. R. Zarzosanga, Director, Higher & Technical Education. Prof. Vanlalhruaii, Principal, IASE gave a report on the history of the institution while Mrs. A. Vanlalzawni, Joint Director, Social. Welfare Department gave report on the Accessible India Campaign. The gathering was concluded with a vote of thanks from Assoc. Professor Dr. Laldinliani Hrahsel.

There are 7 Ph.D and 4 M.Phil students admitted for the first batch in IASE. First known as the Mizoram Institute of Education (MIE), the Institute of Advanced Study in Education (IASE) was established in 1975. It later became the College of Teacher Education (CTE) in 1997, the only CTE in the State, and further upgraded to its present status of an IASE in 2005. The IASE began functioning from the 3rd March 2012. IASE Aizawl is the sole IASE in the country to offer multi-modal B.Ed programme for in-service teachers and now is the first college in Mizoram to offer Ph.D courses. Currently the number of students enrolled is 691 with 235 in B.Ed. (Regular), 400 in B.Ed Multimode and 45 M.Ed apart from the new M.phil and Ph.D enrollment. There are 19 teaching and 18 non-teaching faculties.

The wheelchair user accessible lift installment inaugurated by the Chief Minister was constructed under the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) through the state's Social Welfare Department with a sanctioned amount of Rs. 41,03,207. This installment is expected to aid specially abled persons as well as pregnant women and those with infirmities.