In the absence of university approval, it would be a Herculean task for the SCS College authorities to issue certificates to the students enrolled in 2017
Puri: Future of the students who have enrolled themselves in the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) courses at Samanta Chandra Sekhar (SCS) College here in 2017 has been pushed to uncertainty as the authorities have failed to obtain the due approval from the Utkal University. The college authorities also could not enrol the students for 2018-19 academic year due to absence of the approval.
In the absence of university approval, it would be a Herculean task for the SCS College authorities to issue certificates to the students enrolled in 2017, sources said.
Some students’ outfits have blamed the inefficiency and callousness of SCS authorities for the prevailing uncertainty over MPhil courses and threatened to launch agitation over the issue.
The state government had allowed the College to open MPhil courses in four subjects—Odia, English, Geography and Commerce—in 2017. The college authorities were told to apply for the approval from Utkal University. However, the college authorities enrolled 32 students, eight for each subjects, in 2017.
Moreover, the college authorities had issued notification for enrollment of students for MPhil courses for the year 2018. They had conducted entrance tests for the courses in September last year. The viva voce for the courses were conducted December 7, 2018 after the publication of entrance test results in November.
However, the college authorities are yet to enrol the successful students and begin classes for the courses. “The college authorities told us that they would enrol us in the last week of March or in the first week of April after the completion of examinations for the 2017 batch,” said a student who had qualified the tests.
College principal Laxmidhar Mishra, however, said they have approached the Utkal University authorities to provide approval for MPhil courses several times, but in vain. “We are facing problems to enroll students due to delay in receiving the approval from Utkal University,” he added.
However, many intellectuals and social activists have rejected Mishra’s clarification on the issue. “Why did they invite applications from students and conduct the entrance tests when they didn’t have the approval to enrol students into MPhil courses? Now, how can they issue certificates to the first batch students?” asked a city-based intellectual.
Puri district unit of ABVP too blamed the college authorities over the issue. “We would be forced to launch an agitation if the authorities do not take immediate step to resolve all the issues related to MPhil courses at SCS College,” said Parthajit Prusti, an office bearer of Puri district ABVP unit.
