Don’t open more degree colleges: Assembly panel to Odisha Govt

Bhubaneswar: An Assembly committee on Higher Education has recommended the state government for not opening up new degree colleges in Odisha.

After reviewing the allocation made in the budget 2020-21, the standing committee on Higher Education Department in Assembly headed by MLA Bhupinder Singh recommended for complete closure of the system that allows to open new colleges.

However, the panel endorsed the government for opening up new educational institutions under Higher Education Department in the blocks sans colleges.

Also, the number of seats in existing degree colleges needs to be increased in the regions where the students have no option to pursue higher studies after completing Plus II courses.

Assessing the need for more number of regional directors to monitor more than 1000 government and government aided colleges in the state, the Higher Education committee advocated for creation of at least 15 regional director posts in 13 undivided districts.

The government should focus on the recruitment to the post of principals in all the degree colleges, the panel said in its report recommending the hike in remuneration of guest faculties.

The committee also recommended for infrastructure development of private colleges using MLA Local Area Development (LAD) funds and to relax age limit for promotion to the post of Readers in private aided colleges from 27 to 23.