Odisha plans higher education overhaul, mulls shutting colleges with poor enrolment

The Odisha government is reportedly planning to close underperforming colleges and courses with chronically low student enrolment.

According to The Times of India, a recent meeting of the High-Power Committee (HPC) under the Higher Education Department, held on June 11 and 12, resulted in key recommendations to streamline college operations and improve academic viability.

The HPC directed authorities to identify and recommend the closure of courses or colleges where seats have remained vacant or intake has been minimal, often limited to just four or five students, over the last three to four years, as per the TOI report.

The report added that the proceedings of the meeting were shared with all public universities, regional education directors, and the Odisha State Higher Education Council for immediate action.

The HPC also proposed the closure of three private and self-financing colleges in Keonjhar, Bolangir, and Koraput districts, as well as certain courses in three other institutions, citing unviable academic and financial conditions.

In addition to recommending closures, the committee emphasised regulatory reforms to prevent a further increase in inadequately planned institutions. A major concern identified was that some colleges began operations with departmental recognition but lacked formal university affiliation, leading to disruptions for enrolled students.

To prevent such cases, the HPC has mandated joint inspections involving department and university officials before granting permanent recognition, with a three-month timeline for assessing all pending proposals from 2022–25.

Medical Colleges on the Rise Amid Course Closures

While general higher education faces consolidation, Odisha is simultaneously ramping up investment in medical education and healthcare infrastructure. The state government recently approved the establishment of nine new medical institutions across the state for the 2025–26 academic session.

As part of this expansion, four MBBS colleges will be opened in Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, and Nabarangpur districts. Additionally, dental colleges are slated for Burla, Berhampur, Keonjhar, and Balangir, while Mayurbhanj will get a dedicated Ayurvedic college. 

Further, the state has also decided to increase capacity in the newly launched medical colleges in Talcher and Phulbani, with plans to admit 100 students each.