The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has slammed the state of higher Education in Odisha in its recent report tabled in the assembly.
The report said gross enrolment ratio (GER) of 22.1% in Odisha between 2014 and 2019 is below the national Average of 26.30%. It slammed the for not devising specific plan to improve the ratio.
Despite SC/ST Population comprising around 40% of the states total population, the report said the GER and gender parity index of SC/ST categories remained below the national average.
The CAG also pointed out poor functioning of career counselling cells inUtkal University(UU),North Odisha University(NOU) and 32 known degree colleges. It said there was less than optimal functioning or complete absence of placement and career counselling cells and job fairs in these institutions while amount released to organize the job fair remained unutilized.
On an average 26.10% students of UU and 3.79% students of NOU could get placements through placements cells/job fairs between 2014 and 2019. UU and NOU had facilitated placement of 1,089 and 70 students, respectively, through job fairs during the period, said the CAG in its report.