Bhubaneswar: 35 colleges report zero admission in 39 subjects

Bhubaneswar: As many as 39 subjects offered by 35 colleges under Bhubaneswar region of higher education department have reported zero admission in the academic session 2023-24. Subjects like mathematics and English are on the top of the list.
These colleges belong to eight districts. Nine colleges from Cuttack district have reported zero admission in certain subjects followed by six from Kendrapada district, five each from Dhenkanal, Jajpur and Jagatsinghpur districts, three from Khurda district and one each from Angul and Puri districts.
While nine colleges have reported zero admission in mathematics, five among these did not get a single student for the English subject.Other subjects including Chemistry, Economics, Sanskrit, Vyakarana, Sarva Darshana, Sahitya and Advaita Vedanta were in the list too.
“Students fear they may not bring good marks in mathematics and English, that’s why they do not accept these subjects as honours subjects in undergraduate (UG). They try to take other conventional subjects instead of these subjects. Another reason is lack of trained teachers to teach students and proper infrastructure in the institution,” said the principal of one of these colleges.
Another principal said Sanskrit, Vyakarana, Sarva Darshana, Sahitya and Advaita Vedanta are being taught in Sanskrit colleges. “Some of the subjects do not have teachers. Students are looking for subjects which can provide employment after completion of the course,” he added.
Regional directorate of education (RDE), Bhubaneswar has also found that three colleges from Dhenkanal, Jajpur and Khurda districts reported zero admission during the last two academic sessions. The RDE had issued show cause to these colleges recently, but the authorities did not submit their explanation.
“After contacting the college authorities over telephone, they have indicated that they are no more inclined to continue with admission in the coming session. In view of this, admission restrictions have been imposed in respect of these institutions. Further, steps are being taken for closure of these colleges,” said Suman Das, regional director of education, Bhubaneswar.
On May 3, the RDE had sought information from the colleges under its jurisdiction about their subjects witnessing zero admission. It had also issued show cause to some colleges having zero admission.