(Left to right) Assam governor JB Patnaik, Odisha governor SC Jamir and vice-chancellor of Berhampur University JK Mohapatra at the varsity’s 18th annual convocation. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, June 28: Guests at Berhampur University’s 18th convocation function today said they were dissatisfied with the state of higher education in the country. They felt the curricula at various varsities were not compatible with current employment needs.

Speaking at the event, Assam governor J.B. Patnaik said not a single university in India was in the list of the world’s top 200 institutions. “Two-thirds of the country’s universities and 90 per cent colleges were rated below average on quality parameters. The National Knowledge Commission believes that by 2015, India should attain a gross enrolment ratio of at least 15 per cent if we are to compete with most modern societies,” he said.

“I strongly believe that women’s education should be free up to the university level with large number of scholarships and other facilities reserved for them. Female literacy in the state and the country is much behind the average literacy rate and girls are still discriminated against,” the former Odisha chief minister said.

Governor and chancellor of state-run varsities S.C. Jamir also felt that quality education was still a dream. “Today, we have over 650 universities, of which 43 are central universities, 16 National Institutes of Technology and 30 lakh colleges across the country. But we have sacrificed quality in our mad scramble for quantity,” he said.

On the other hand, Berhampur University vice-chancellor Jayanta Mohapatra said several steps had been taken over the past three years to ensure better academic ambience. “Steps have been taken to rejuvenate research activities utilising optimum UGC funds under the Eleventh Five Year Plan. We have organised a series of national and international seminars and conferences,” he said.

Degrees were awarded to the graduates of 2011 and 2012.