Opp raps Govt over college teacher crunch

Opposition members on Friday came down heavily on the State Government while alleging that it has adopted a callous attitude in filling up vacant lecturer posts in colleges and imparting quality education in the higher education sector. The Opposition too alleged that the State Government has turned colleges as political platforms by appointing its failed leaders as presidents of college management committees. Opposition members Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Chiranjib Biswal, Bhujabal Majhi, Pradip Purohit and Bibhuti Bhusan Harichanda made these accusations while participating in an Adjournment Motions in the Assembly.

On the other hand, Higher Education Minister Dr Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy refuted the charges stating that the Government has taken adequate steps to impart quality education by keeping up efforts in appointing lecturers, reforming teaching and examination systems and developing infrastructure in colleges.

“The OPSC has been given a requisition to select 352 degree college lectures and 272 junior college lectures. Recently, 453 junior lecturers have been promoted and appointed in degree colleges. While 227 vacant posts were filled up in seven universities last year, the State Government has already given permission for appointment of the rest 201 lecturer/professor posts,” the Minister said.

He said the State Government has adopted e-admission system for all Government and private colleges in the State. Student capacity has been increased to 20 per cent in all colleges and provision of 20,000 hostel seats have been made to provide hostel facility to all students in Government colleges. 

He also informed that while Rs 95 crore has been allocated for infrastructure development in aided colleges, Rs 121 crore has been allocated for infrastructural development in universities during the current year. Ruling members, including Amar Prasad Satpathy refuted Opposition charges.