Bhubaneswar, Oct 28: The state school and mass education department constituted the directorate of higher education to deal with administrative and academic issues of Plus Two colleges.

The state government had separated Plus Two classes from the higher education department to bring it under the school and mass education department from this academic year. This was done to bring it at par with the education pattern prevalent across the country. Besides, the decision was aimed to get central assistance through Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan.

The departmental shift came into effect following a notification issued by the higher education department on May 24. Accordingly, the general administration department had amended the state government rules.

On October 7, the school and mass education department issued a notification to form the directorate, which will start functioning from the current fiscal. It is being treated as a separate head of the department.

The directorate will work on development schemes and check-on their progress from time to time, suggest modifications wherever necessary and generally to ensure that the schemes fulfil basic objectives. The Council for Higher Secondary Education and about 1,455 Plus II colleges will be under the administrative control of the new directorate, said an official of higher education department.

Sources said the directorate headed by a director in the rank of additional secretary would have an additional director or joint director and two deputy directors. This apart, there would be an establishment officer, a finance officer and six section officers.

Academicians felt after the department was formed the state higher education system would be more streamlined and students would be able to approach the concerned officials for matters related to academics and extra-curricular activities.

The Plus Two colleges too would be able to approach the directorate to resolve their grievances. S.K. Pani, 70, a retired Plus Two college principal said the separate directorate was formed at the right time. "Getting central assistance for Plus Two colleges had always been a challenge for the principals," he said.