Balangir: Five colleges, including Rajendra College of Balangir, will be accorded university status, School and Mass Education minister Debi Prasad Mishra announced here on Thursday.
Mishra, who was part of the task force during his tenure as Higher Education ,minister, told media persons, “The five colleges in Balangir, Subarnapur, Nuapada and Kalahandi districts will be upgraded to university. They will have separate controllers to conduct examinations. An announcement in this regard is likely to be made in the next academic session.”
He added, “The plan to upgrade institutes or colleges has been bringing success, which can be seen easily. However, the changes are happening slowly.”
Mishra was in the district to launch the second phase of the Aahar scheme.
Meanwhile, Manish Mishra, former Rajendra College students’ union president, said, “This is a welcome step. On the other hand, lack of infrastructure and shortage of lecturers are the main issues of the college. If the government is changing the name for the sake of it, there is no value of in that. Students of the district will be benefitted only if infrastructure of the college is developed and formed into a university.”
Expressing happiness over the announcement, Madhusudan Pal, Principal of Rajendra College, said, “For educationist, students and parents of this district, this is a dream come true.”
Pal added, “Infrastructure remains an issue for every institution. However, if cooperation from PHD and PWD departments is provided fully, this institution can be made a university with highest standards.”