The students here who have passed +2 science examinations this year and are aspiring for higher education in science are highly frustrated due to lack of sufficient seats in +3 science courses in the district. The Khariar Autonomous College in Khariar town is the only college with facility of +3 science education but it has a total of 64 seats.
More than 500 students have already applied for the course this year.
“Not a single student of the district got admission last year in this college in the +3 science stream as the cut off marks for selection was high,” said Dr Fanindam Deo, Principal of the college. The local students had held demonstration demanding increase in the number of seats.
“We had applied to the Government last year for increasing the number of seats to 128, but there is no response,” added Dr Deo. Fakira Jagat and Nimai Tandi, two Dalit leaders of the area said, “Poor students belonging to ST and SC community and girls are suffering much due to non-availability of seats in the college. Because they are unable to go out to far places due to poverty, they have to drop out.”
The cut off mark for +3 admission last year in the Khariar College for ST/SC students was 62 per cent and most of the students under reserved categories had secured less marks.
Jaimani Jhankar, a Chakotia Bhunjia tribal girl, of the Maoist affected Sunabeda plateau has secured 57 per cent in +2 Science this year. She has opted for the Khariar College as first preference, the Government Autonomous College, Bhawanipatna and the Rajendra College, Balangir as the second and third preferences, respectively. But she is not sure of getting a seat in the local college as the cut off marks in all of these colleges last year stood at over 60 per cent. “I will discontinue my education, if I do not get admission at Khariar. My father will not be able to bear the cost of my education in faraway places” said Jaimani.
“The local students may agitate again this year, if they do not get admission. Considering this, the Government should increase the number of seats and reserve 15 to 20 per cent seats for the local students,” opined Sanjay Tiwari.