Odisha Withdraws Order On Streamlining Self-Financing Courses In State Public Universities

Bhubaneswar: The Higher Education department, on Monday, has withdrawn its order of streamline self-financing courses (SFCs) in Odisha universities.

Governor Ganeshi Lal, who is also the Chancellor of State universities, had originally made the recommendations of capping students strength of all such courses, both direct and PPP mode, at 20 per cent of the total student strength of all regular courses.

Additional Secretary, Higher Education department, Birendra Korkora, has written to the officers of Higher Education Department in this regard.

“Higher Education Department letter No.15631/H.E, dated 16.04.2022, in regard to streamlining of Self-Finance courses in the State Public Universities, is hereby withdrawn.”

Earlier, the Chancellor had expressed concern regarding the manner in which SFCs are currently being run in State Public Universities; especially the way the courses tend to over-shadow the ‘Regular Courses’ of the Universities concerned.

He had recommended that the student strength of all SFCs (Direct as well as PPP mode) put together shall not exceed 20% of the total student strength of all Regular Courses.

The move was protested by students unions and had also hurled tomatoes at Higher Education Minister Arun Sahoo’s residence here on Saturday.

The agitating students had alleged that the move to restrict self-finance courses in universities will hurt the poor and meritorious students.

The Chancellor had mentioned that state public universities should fully concentrate on running high-quality ‘regular courses’ to benefit students from economically weaker households. Universities may consider to run, to a limited extent, a few SFCs if there is a need.