To take action against errant teachers and keep vigil on their activities, the State Government has decided to instal biometric devices in the State-run colleges.
The timing of the teachers’ entrance to the college campuses and their departure timings would be recorded in the biometric machines.
The Higher Education Department has asked for installation of two biometric machines in each college, for which Rs 20 lakh has been allocated in the budget.
There would be a central server for managing the devices. The Director of Higher Education would be in charge of the management and maintenance of the biometric machines.
In order to improve the teaching methodology in the Government colleges, the department also decided to build at least one classroom having information and communications technology (ICT) facility. As per the decision, the colleges would be provided the WiFi and high-speed internet facilities.
For the purpose, a committee headed by the Higher Education Council (OSHEC) Secretary would also comprise the Utkal University IT Department chief and the Director of Higher Education Director as members.
The ICT classroom would be built by the Higher Education Department at an expenditure of Rs 4.20 crore to impart quality education to the students.
The Government has also decided to purchase Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) textbooks for its 50 Plus Three colleges. Twenty-six colleges having below 500 students would be granted Rs 3 lakh each. A sum of Rs 4 lakh would be provided to each of 22 colleges having students between 500-1,000 and Rs 5 lakh each would be sanctioned for two colleges with students’ strength of over 1,000.
A committee headed by the OSHEC Vice-Chairman would decide on textbook selection. It would also consist of a representative from the Odisha State Free University, the chief of Utkal University library and the Information Science Department and the Director of Higher Education Department as other members.
The Government would spend Rs 84 lakh for online digital journals for the students of the State-run colleges. The Director of Higher Education has been asked to take initiative in this regard as per the UGC guidelines.
A total of Rs 7 crore has been allocated for development of infrastructure in the Government colleges in the 2017-18 academic session to bring changes in the teaching process. The expenditure report of the allocation would be submitted to the Government by April 30, 2018, an official said.