Government nod to 33 new junior colleges

BHUBANESWAR Former principal of BJB Junior College R N Panda, who is now principal of Institute of Higher Secondary Education, a self-financed Plus II college, said, "It's really difficult to understand why the state government is opening so many new colleges. In stead, the government should develop infrastructure in colleges and fill up vacancies in teaching posts. Moreover, most of these colleges are simply profit-making ventures."As per e-admission data, of the 3,27,236 seats in 1,391 junior colleges across the state, 2,37,254 students took admission on the basis of the first selection list and nearly 22,148 students took admission after the second list. 74,720 seats are vacant. Higher education secretary Gagan Dhal said, "The new colleges can take part in the admission process. They can admit students through spot admission, or by offering seats to meritorious ST/SC students and extra seats to locals, in case of rural colleges." On last Tuesday, a newly recognized self-financing junior college announced its launch and asked students to take spot admission on July 20.