Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, April 4: With the state government deciding to separate junior colleges (Plus II) from Plus III colleges, the higher education department initiated the process of availing funds from the Centre under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) scheme.
“At present, higher secondary schools (junior colleges) are not covered under any scheme for funding, and they require a lot of funds for academic and infrastructure improvements. Accordingly, our department is preparing a project report for funding under RMSA during the current year based on RMSA norms and would be sent to you at the earliest,” higher education secretary GK Dhal wrote to school and mass education secretary Usha Padhee.
There are 1,467 such junior colleges in the state.
The higher education department will send a detailed project proposal to the school and mass education department which will later compile it with their proposal and send it to the Centre, sources said.
“As per discussions with you, director of vocational education Roshanara Begum attended the last PAB (project approval board) meeting in New Delhi where the proposal for RMSA for the state of Orissa was approved. It was also decided to send a proposal for funding for these schools,” Dhal said.
Higher education minister Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi had said last month in the Assembly that the state government plans to separate Plus II colleges from degree colleges in the state from the 2015-16 academic year.
A meeting in this regard was held under the chairmanship of the development commissioner in January.
