OTCA boycotts OJEE, submits memorandum to Odisha governor

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 11:

Protesting the alleged high-handedness of the authorities of the Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) in the conduct of examinations and counselling of students, the Odisha Technical College Association (OTCA) today decided to boycott the OJEE.

The council, which took the decision at a meeting here, later submitted a memorandum to the Odisha Governor SC Jamir demanding fulfillment of its 7-point charter of demands.

“We totally boycott the OJEE in its present form till  such time that a transparent, student-friendly, unbiased, accountable and merit-based system is put in place. This is the prerequisite for any future OJEE,” the memorandum said.

The demands of the Association include formation of a committee comprising eminent educationists, administrators and senior journalists for restructuring the OJEE team with new members with clean track records; power of admission to colleges; counseling and verification of documents at the college level and communication to the concerned university for registration of the students admitted; special provision for admission of students from outside Odisha; fixed and time-bound calendar for conduct of OJEE, counseling and admission for both BPUT affiliated colleges and private universities; regular meeting of policy planning body (PPB) and conduct of OJEE under direct supervision of PPB having representatives from all technical college associations and students of these colleges as members.

Besides, OTCA also demanded special audit of the income and expenditure of OJEE since last five years and a public hearing on this.