Expressing concern over poor show in higher education sector, Rourkela MlA Dilip Ray on Tuesday said the State Government had not only failed to fund the sector adequately but also lost huge amounts of Central assistance due to improper management and poor infrastructure in educational institutions.
He said most of the universities and Government colleges are facing staff crunch. Nearly 90 per cent of colleges don’t have NAAC accreditation, which is a prerequisite for availing UGC and RUSA (Rashtriya Uchattar Shiksha Abhiyan) grants.
Out of 14 universities, only three have NAAC status now. Similarly due to poor infrastructure, 24 out of 34 autonomous colleges are yet to get NAAC accreditation.
“It is disappointing that Principal posts in all autonomous colleges are lying vacant and 36 such posts are vacant in other Government colleges,’ he said adding, “The Government should stop blaming the Central Government and own up the responsibility for poor condition of educational infrastructure and take immediate action to revive it.”
He said standards of higher education institutions will improve only when more Central funds come in. “This can be ensured only when the State Government becomes sincere towards bettering educational institutions,” opined Ray.