Scores of students in Odisha have been kept in the dark by the college authorities as they are running without valid recognition. Mostly, several degree and professional colleges are reportedly among the violators.
The State Higher Education Department has also expressed concerns over such shocking lapses as such institutions are running for years together without valid recognition and even conducting admissions. The Higher Education Department recently found that several colleges have failed to secure valid recognition, even after seven years of obtaining permission for their respective institution, streams, and courses.
Despite the lack of recognition, such colleges have gone ahead and admitted students for the academic session 2023-24. The Higher Education Department has now sought a list of such colleges from Regional Directors. Subsequently, appropriate legal action will be taken against such colleges, sources said.
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“We had received a letter and submitted a response stating that there are no such institutes here. The Odisha government from time to time conducts inspection to find if any college or university is functioning without affiliation or other stipulations,” said Trinath Rath, Regional Education Director, Jeypore.
It is pertinent to mention here that several colleges are struggling to obtain affiliation from concerned Universities. But they are still conducting admissions into their institutions.
Under such circumstances, the question remains how such things are going on in Odisha? How admissions in colleges that are not recognised are being done under SAMS? Some colleges are also conducting admissions in offline mode as well in the state.
Problem For Students
The students, who are taking admission in such non-recognised colleges, are unable to give exams and the University is also not publishing results.
“As seats are limited in Government colleges, students are forced to opt for private colleges. It is difficult for a student to ascertain the veracity of an institute as everything fraud is being uploaded on the official website,” alleged a student.
Another student said, “From the SAMS website, students are getting phone calls and information and subsequently taking admission. The certificates that are issued to students are not recognised by the government. As a result, precious three years of students are getting affected.”