Bhubaneswar: In what is apparently turning out to be a major headache for the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education, more than one lakh seats in Plus Two Arts, Commerce and Science streams have remained vacant after the completion of first phase admission during this year.
Apart from these three streams, a very less number of students enrolled in vocational studies this academic season. According to reports, out of 4,48,451 seats in all the streams, as many as 1.31 lakh plus two seats at 1,984 junior colleges across the State are lying vacant after the first phase admissions for the current academic session.
The highest vacancy of 14,566 seats has been reported from Ganjam district followed by Khurda. It is learnt that lack of proper infrastructures and facilities at some colleges are the major causes behind the vacant seats.
Apart from this, a large number of students are joining technical courses including ITI and diploma engineering.
Of the total 3,96,873 students, who have passed the annual matric examinations this year, 2,78,783 students have taken admission in the plus two courses, while 10,976 students joined ITI, 17,561 students joined diploma.
"Lack of infrastructure structure and unavailability of hotels are the main reasons for vacancy," said Swarna Prabha Mohapatra, Principal of Khallikote Junior College.
"Students are joining technical studies as there are lack of proper facilities at junior colleges," said a student, Udit Narayan Prahraj.
Not only this year, Odisha witnessed similar numbers last year too. It has become a major concern for the State government. As many as 94,301 seats at 2,041 junior colleges had remained vacant last year.
"As many as 3,16,704 students took admission in various streams and 1,31,776 seats are lying vacant after the completion of first phase admission. We are waiting for the government's decision in this regard," said Bhagirathi Kandi, OIC of Higher Secondary Education Directorate.
"The government shut down the institutes with poor performance and issued show cause notices. This move will definitely bring reform in the educational institutes and they will provide quality education," said Kamala Prasad Mohapatra, educationist.