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Bhubaneswar, Feb 15: The absence of long-term perspective planning and inadequate infrastructure are among the many lacunae in the higher education sector revealed by the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
The state had been asked to prepare a five-year report indicating key action areas but officials have not taken any steps in this regard, the audit report has noted. This lack of perspective planning is particularly alarming as there is only one degree college in Nuapada for a population of about one lakh while there is only one junior college in Rayagada for a population of about 60,000.
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The Government of India has sanctioned Rs 21.36 crore for setting up eight colleges in tribal districts, but the project has been stalled as the locations where these are to come up have not been identified.
Moreover, the Centre has mandated separation of junior colleges from degree colleges in 1989, but even after 25 years no effort has been made to implement this, the CAG notes. The state government in 2011 passed a resolution to transfer junior colleges to the control of the school and mass education department but no action has been taken yet.
The CAG further pointed out that there is an acute shortage of academic heads in non-government aided colleges across the state. The principal secretary of the higher education department, however, said that the creation of a separate cadre for principals of 488 aided colleges was under active consideration of the government.
The state can provide affiliation to degree and postgraduate colleges under the Orissa University Act 1989 whereas junior colleges can get affiliation from the Council of Higher Secondary Education under the Orissa Higher Secondary Education Act 1982.
However, the CAG has found out that four of 65 junior colleges and four of 64 degree colleges are being run without affiliation for the past 27 years. The University Grants Commission has sanctioned Rs 12.9 crore to 21 colleges during the 11th five year plan for construction of ladies hostels, but till March 2014 only two colleges have completed the ladies hostels at a cost of Rs 73.63 lakh while two other colleges have surrender Rs 17.50 lakh to UGC because of non-availability of land for the construction.
Ladies hostels in three colleges have been used as office room, teacher’s common room, classroom and also the principal’s room.
