Govt Withdraws Restrictions On Admission To Degree Colleges In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has withdrawn the restrictions imposed on degree colleges which did not have recognition or lacked in infrastructure facilities.

In a letter to Regional Directors of Education (RDEs) of five zones, Special Secretary, Higher Education department Rajashree Mohanty said the restrictions were lifted after considering the requests from the educational institutions.

The institutions facing the restrictions said they were facing severe financial difficulties due to two years of COVIID pandemic and requested the government to allow them to resume the admission process. Those colleges can now admit the students for 2022-23 academic session, said Mohanty. However, the colleges have to obtain the approval of the high-power committee (HPC).

It may be pointed out that the department had restricted admissions in 93 degree colleges under all the five zones of RDE including self-financing and unaided institutions for 2022-23 academic year after a review by the HPC last month. The five zones include Balasore, Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Jeypore and Sambalpur.

Under Bhubaneswar zone, admission to 12 colleges was restricted for non-submission of either temporary or permanent recognition certificates. Apart from not having recognition, the colleges dis not have adequate faculty members.

The department has also asked the colleges, which faced the government action, to fulfill all conditions for recognition as per the Orissa Education Act before starting 2023-24 academic session.