Post News Network
Cuttack: Authorities of Ravenshaw University here have decided to introduce an MPhil course in Oriya literature under the self-financing mode.
The varsity authorities plan to add four seats to the existing eight for the MPhil course in Oriya, according to sources. Students have to pay the course fee and other donations to enrol themselves for these additional four seats. Earlier, Ravenshaw University had introduced post graduate courses in Sanskrit and Hindi in the self-financing mode, sources said.
The decision to introduce self-financing mode in MPhil course in Oriya has invited sharp criticism from students and intellectuals.
Students have alleged that the introduction of self-financing mode in various courses of the varsity will encourage commercialisation of education.
“With the introduction of self-financing courses students do not require knowledge and talent to get a seat in Ravenshaw University. They can just purchase seats with money,” said a postgraduate student on the condition of anonymity.
Educationists have opined that the introduction of self-financing courses in Ravenshaw University will make it difficult for poor students to get seats.
A few of them have criticised the varsity authorities for introducing Oriya literature courses in the self-financing mode.
“The state government has recently announced that it will use Oriya as the official language and will also promote it in all spheres of education. However, Ravenshaw University authorities are trying to deny courses in Oriya to poor students,” said an educationist.
Vice-chancellor Prakash Chandra Sarangi defended the move by saying that the varsity has the prerogative to introduce self-financing mode in various courses. “We are creating additional seats in various courses to enrol students under the self-financing mode. So, the allegations of denying education to poor students are not true,” Sarangi said.
