Though the need for higher education has grown in Odisha with a rise in Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) and the number of colleges and universities too has grown but the Government did not do much to improve quality of higher education.
This was stated by the Audit Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Outcomes in Higher Education in the State, which was tabled in the State Assembly on Thursday by Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari.
The report stated that the objective of creating Odisha State Higher Education Council (OSHEC) to promote higher education and research in the State in a competitive global environment through planning and reforms remained largely unfulfilled. The OSHEC had not prepared any State Higher Education Plans like perspective plan, annual action plans, etc. Activities for quality enhancement of higher educational institutions were undertaken sporadically by State Level Quality Assurance Cell (SLQAC). That SLQAC had not taken adequate steps to create awareness about, and encourage accreditation, is evident from the fact that only 181 (20.50 %) out of 883 colleges of Odisha had NAAC accreditation as of March 2019.
Internal Quality Assessment Cells (IQACs) were functioning in only 19 of the 32 test checked colleges. Of the Rs 60 lakh received by 20 colleges from UGC for the establishment and strengthening of IQACs, only Rs 37.91 lakh could be spent.
Thus, functioning of the SLQACs and IQACs was not effective for improving the academic and administrative performance of higher educational institutions, the report said.The report also presented performance audit of two universities (Utkal University and North Odisha University) and 32 degree colleges under the Higher Education Department during the period from 2014-15 to 2018-19.
The findings said that Utkal University and North Odisha University (NOU) and four of the test checked colleges, received Rs 41.50 lakh from the State Government for establishment of Career Counseling Cells (CCC), while Utkal could spend only Rs 29,000 out of Rs 17 lakh received, mainly on the inauguration function of the Cell (in March 2017), later , the CCC was not made functional.In North Odisha University only Rs 2.13 lakh out of 12.50 lakh received could be utilised.
On an average 26.10 per cent (2014-19) students of UU and 3.79 per cent (2014- 19) students of NOU could get placements through placement cells or job fairs. There was less than optimal functioning and, in many cases, complete absence of placement in the universities and colleges. Utkal University and North Odisha University had facilitated placement of 1,089 and 70 students respectively, through job fairs. Out of 32 test checked colleges, job fairs were not organised in 28 colleges (88 per cent) which was a constraining factor in providing due exposure to students to their potential employers.
In Utkal University, of the total enrolled students, the percentage of students who qualified in different competitive examinations ranged between 2.23 and 27.10 per cent during 2014-19, except in 2015-16 when it was 40.19 per cent. In North Odisha University, the percentage of students who qualified in competitive examinations, ranged between 3.50 and 7.72 per cent only. Though for improving the performance of students in Civil Services Examination, it was decided to set up coaching facilities in universities and the Utkal University received Rs 30 lakh and conducted training for two batches comprising 60 students each in 2017-18, however, none of the students qualified in the Civil Services examination.
The CAG observed that the scheme was initiated without a detailed implementation plan as the university had neither appointed a course coordinator for the coaching centre nor engaged professional trainers.
It was observed that while 58 per cent classrooms of Utkal University were ICT enabled, in case of North Odisha University, this was 45 per cent only. In test checked colleges, the percentage of ICT enabled classrooms fell drastically to range between 8 and 11 per cent only. In Utkal University, against a sanctioned strength of 232 teachers, persons-in-position stood at 144 only, leading to a substantial vacancy of 38 per cent. In North Odisha University, against a sanctioned strength of 67 teachers, there were only 44 persons-in-position i.e., a 34 per cent vacancy. In 31 test-checked colleges, the vacancy position stood at 28 per cent.
During 2014-19, Utkal University declared results of examinations for PG courses with delays ranging from 133 to 259 days from the scheduled date.
While Utkal University undertook 49 research projects during 2014-19 and received Government grant of Rs 3.09 crore, out of these 49, only eight (16.33 per cent) were completed. The amount of funds transferred to the concerned departments and utilisation thereof were not monitored by the R and D Cell of the university. During same period, North Odisha University undertook 28 research projects and received grant of Rs 2.62 crore. Of these, 15 projects (53.57 per cent) were completed within due date.