By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, August 26, 2017: More than half of technical colleges in Odisha are faces with closure for recording less than 30 percent admissions in the last five years following a significant decision by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in this regard.

AICTE, the regulator for technical education in the country informed about the decision to close down technical colleges with less than 30 percent admissions in the last five years, in its Approval Process Handbook (2017–2018) and has sought suggestions from all state governments for its implementation.

The AICTE will implement its decision from the coming year.

Meanwhile, Odisha Private Engineering Colleges Association (OPECA) in a letter to AICTE has asked the latter to consider closing colleges based on admissions in the last three years rather than five years.

“No one should have any problem with AICTE’s decision as there is no justification of running colleges which very few students choose. But since the AICTE proposed the decision last year they should consider admissions of last year, this year and the coming year before shutting the colleges based on the past five years’ record,” said Secretary of OPECA, Binod Das.

Maximum seats are lying vacant in engineering, MBA and MCA courses in the State since the last few years; especially, there has been a drop in engineering admissions. More than 60 percent seats are lying vacant even after Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) was conducted twice this year.

While 67 percent seats in engineering courses were vacant in 2014, it was 60 percent in 2015 and 61 percent in 2016. Even though seats are also lying vacant in the current year, Board of Management of Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) is unhappy with AICTE’s decision.