Odisha Has Highest Number Of Educationally Backward Dists: Union Minister

New Delhi: Odisha has highest number of educationally backward districts in the country, said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan quoting an expert committee report.

Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, the minister said the expert committee, constituted by the University Grants Commission (UGC), has identified 374 educationally backward districts in the country based on various parameters including gross enrolment ratio, college population ratio and average enrolment per college.

Of these districts, 18 are located in Odisha, said the minister. Odisha is followed by West Bengal (17), Chhattisgarh (15) and Jharkhand (12).

The identified districts in Odisha are Angul, Balangir, Bargarh, Boudh, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Rayagada and Sonepur.

Pradhan said in order to improve the educational standards of these districts, the Central government has launched several schemes including Samagra Shiksha that ensures quality education to all children. It covers over 15.6 crore students of 11.6 lakh schools, he added.