Bhubaneswar: The plight of technical education in Odisha has once again come to limelight after the admission process for the current academic session recorded the lowest ever students intake in recent years.
Reports suggested that there are as many as 88 private engineering colleges in Odisha with a net strength of around 40,000 seats. Like some recent years, the current year has also seen astonishingly lowest number of 4,600 students take admission into various engineering disciplines across the state putting the technical education sector in jeopardy.
Meanwhile, Private Engineering College Association has urged the Skill Development and Technical Education department to look into the matter. It also reiterated its demands for a second Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) so as to fill up the remaining vacant seats.
On the other hand, Orissa High Court has sought a report from the state government as to why it has not taken any remedial measures even though seat allotment in engineering colleges is on a gradual decline.
The court has further asked the government to submit a petition regarding this matter by August 1 and also directed the engineering colleges to complete the admission process by August 15. Besides, it has also said the institutions can admit college students they feel fit to pursue technical education on their own.