Bhubaneswar, Aug. 31: The director of higher education has asked non-government colleges to comply with the terms and conditions of the Orissa Education Act within three months, failing which the temporary recognition would not be extended.

“It has come to our notice that several colleges seeking renewal of recognition have failed to fulfil the infrastructural requirement, particularly laboratories, for practical-based subjects as prescribed in the act. It is absolutely necessary and binding for colleges to fully comply with the terms and conditions to be accorded temporary recognition,” said B.P. Nanda, director of higher education.

In June, the department of higher education (DHE) had blacklisted 11 privately run junior colleges for failing to achieve the prescribed norms in terms of land, laboratories, overall infrastructure and other logistics within three years of establishment. A high power committee, a sub-committee constituted by the department, had taken the decision after reviewing the available facilities at the 11 colleges. Of those colleges, seven were later given conditional approval to admit students for this academic session. If the colleges fail to comply with the prescribed norms within three months, they will be restricted to take part in the admission process from next year. However, what is more disturbing is the fact that the future of the students, who had enrolled in these institutions, is at stake.

“Most private colleges manage to get recognition due to their own influence or political clout. They are least bothered about quality. Many of them are running from rented flats and do not have regular faculty and other basic facilities. They rope in marketing agents to woo candidates. Once the classes begin, students and their parents realise that many facilities, which the college representatives had promised, are lacking,” said R.N. Panda, educationist and principal of the institute of higher secondary education, Bhubaneswar.

He added the online admission system for Plus Two and degree colleges has broadened the scope for manipulation.

“With e-admissions, students and parents do not feel the need to go to individual colleges and make a background check of the facilities available. Colleges put up fake, exaggerated information on their profile to attract students. In case the recognition is withdrawn, the career of a student is ruined. So, the government must conduct an on-the-spot scrutiny of the colleges before granting recognition,” Panda said.

“We are quite hopeful that the colleges will meet the requisite norms so that their temporary recognition can be extended. If not, we will take suitable action and ensure that the students do not suffer,” said DHE secretary Chandra Shekhar Kumar.