Bhubaneswar, Aug. 4: Students, who have missed out on college admissions or are waiting to be allotted a seat, can still hope to make it as the higher education department has extended the application dates for direct enrolments into Plus Two and Plus Three till August 7.
The notice was issued after a large number of seats – more than 66,000 in junior colleges and over 27,000 in degree colleges – went vacant.
The “vacant seat admission” would apply to only those candidates, who could not apply, did not get a seat or let go of their chance during the normal e-admission process. Students, who have already enrolled themselves, can also make use of this opportunity to switch over to a college of their preference.
“The applicants have to submit the common application form at the colleges having vacant seats by August 7. Colleges will publish a list of students on August 10. However, all candidates, who figure in the list, may not get admission as seats are limited,” said an official in charge of admission, adding that the final selection list will be published on August 12 and 13.
There are 1,396 Plus Two colleges in the state with a total seat strength of nearly 3.38 lakh including around 7,000 seats for SC and ST candidates. In the 697 degree colleges, there are 1.28 lakh seats including 4,500 seats for SC and ST students.
“Though more than five lakh students had cleared the Class X exam this year across various boards, the seats at the Plus Two level are vacant. While those passing out of CBSE and ICSE schools prefer to continue their Plus Two in the same school, around one lakh students from Odia medium schools securing third division marks have enrolled for diploma or vocational courses. This explains why 66,000 seats are still vacant,” said a department official.
After the direct admission gets over, the department would conduct admissions for local students into junior colleges from August 16. “We have chalked out a plan in which local students will get preference in rural colleges by adding 15 per cent seats over and above the sanctioned strength,” the official said.
