Sambalpur: The demand to resume post graduate (PG) and under graduate (UG) courses in the Odisha State Open University (OSOU) has increased since the varsity stopped admissions to these two programmes from the current academic session. The OSOU has been forced to close the two programmes due to a lack of approval from the UGC. Annoyed by the state of affairs of the varsity, which was set up by the Odisha government in 2015, a group of residents here under the aegis of ‘OSOU Banchao Abhiyan’ announced plans Sunday to launch a campaign to save the varsity. They are planning to submit a memorandum to CM Naveen Patnaik, Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan and all MLAs and MPs of this region.
According to the members of the committee, OSOU received approval to offer 14 PG programmes and 11 UG programmes in 2018-19, valid for a period of five years. However, the approval lapsed in 2022-23. Convener of the ‘OSOU Banchao Abhiyan’, Dr Sanjeeb Mishra said, according to the rules, universities seeking fresh approval from UGC must have at least 60% of self-learning materials, three teachers for each UG or PG programmes or five teachers if both UG and PG programmes are offered and NAAC accreditation. However, Mishra pointed out that unfortunately, the varsity does not have its own infrastructure.
Moreover, though more than six years have elapsed since its inception, the state government has not sanctioned teaching posts. “The Odisha government has completely forgotten the varsity which caters to a large number of people from rural areas and women. Thousands of students from across the state benefit from OSOU courses. We ask the government to appoint teachers, and provide required infrastructure so that the institution will be able to secure fresh UGC approval,” Mishra said. “We will also urge the Union Education Minister to intervene and give necessary direction to the UGC in this regard,” he added.
