lHigher education in the state is in a shambles. Over 60,000 seats in Plus Two level fell vacant even after four rounds of admissions while nearly 6,800 seats in degree colleges were not filled up.

Yes, many seats were not filled up. From next year, all degree colleges would be included in the online admission system. This year, we conducted e-admission in all 1,305 junior colleges of the state. As far as degree colleges are concerned, the 6,800-odd seats went vacant only in 162 out of the existing 648 colleges taken up under the e-admission process this time.

lBut these 162 colleges must be among the better colleges. When so many seats fell vacant in the good institutions, what is the status of other colleges?

The share of government colleges in the state is very low — 50 junior, 43 degree and three Sanskrit colleges. The remaining, both aided and unaided, comes within the private fold. Colleges that fail to record a pass rate of 50 per cent would be issued a showcause notice. If their explanation is not satisfactory, we would withdraw their recognition or lower their seat strength. We would also keep an eye on colleges that are performing very well, especially in remote areas.

lThe e-admission system has received criticism from various quarters. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India in its report said the system is defective and has allowed scope for manipulation.

With the introduction of the online system, it has become easier to monitor the education status. Unlike earlier, we have been able to secure authentic data relating to enrolment, pass percentage, attendance and also identify the problem areas. I have not received a single complaint from any student.

lWhat steps are you taking to ensure that teachers and students come to college regularly?

We are developing a quality monitoring tool. It is compulsory for students to have 75 per cent attendance to appear for exams and teachers have been asked to stay in college for a minimum of five hours. Our district level consultants and officials of the higher education department, including me, are making surprise visits to colleges. We are taking disciplinary action against errant teachers and withholding their salaries. Absenteeism has been checked to some extent.

lDespite the state government’s ban on private tuitions by government college teachers, violations have been reported. Even the minister of higher education, Badri Narayan Patra has admitted that this practice still exists.

I have not received any such complaint. We have imposed the minimum-five-hours-duty-a-day for the teachers which would make it difficult for them to conduct private tuitions. The district level consultants and all college principals have been directed to keep a watch on the teachers.

lYou have accepted that college officials used to furnish wrong figures of enrolment. Can’t they also trick the consultants by tampering with the attendance sheet?

They might. The teachers and principals are expected to be morally responsible. I cannot impose morality on college officials; I can only motivate them to increase their moral standards.

lBlock grant college employees have launched agitations time and again demanding higher salaries and regularisation. Teachers of a single college are paid according to three different scales. Is it not the government’s responsibility to ensure that teachers get adequate remuneration?

I agree. Sometimes, discrepancy in remuneration demoralises them. But the government has certain limitations; it all depends on the availability of funds. When private colleges are set up, they submit an undertaking that they will not be a burden on the government. Education is no doubt the state’s responsibility. Ours is the only state where appointment is made by private bodies but salary payment is done by the government. We are planning to amend the Orissa Education Act relating to recruitment of teachers, opening and management of colleges to enhance the quality of education.

lThe number of students from Odisha qualifying the National Eligibility Test (Net) or the civil services is not impressive. What steps are you taking in this regard?

It is a serious concern. We have decided to start coaching classes for Net in universities and all such colleges that offer post graduation courses. The coaching would be conducted in self-financing mode and would span over two months with 36 classes. The expenses would be borne equally by the state government and the college or university concerned. We are also going to revive the recruitment process of teachers according to University Grants Commission norms.

lIt is a popular perception that rampant corruption exists in the higher education department.

When I joined here, I used to get a few complaints in this regard but not anymore. If anything of this sort comes to my notice, I won’t spare the person involved.

A straightforward person

• Well known for his honest and straightforward attitude, Bimal Prasad Nanda is the director of higher education in Odisha

• Nanda was born and brought up in Dhenkanal

• He holds a master’s degree in commerce from the Utkal University, Bhubaneswar

• In 1976, a year after completing his post graduation, he joined Dhenkanal College as a lecturer. After seven years, he moved to the Angul College

• He has also served as a reader at the Ravenshaw College, Cuttack, for nearly 15 years.

• In between, for three years, he was at the Utkal University pursuing research work under a teaching fellowship programme

• He became the principal of Gangadhar Meher College, Sambalpur, in 2009 for a brief period of six months

• At that time, he was also the regional director of education, Sambalpur

• Nanda was appointed as the director of higher education in January 2010 and holds an additional responsibility as director of vocational education

• To his credit, he has taken a number of steps to cleanse the directorate which had earned the bad name of being a corrupt body

What would you have been had you not been an educationist?

I would have been working in the banking or insurance sector since I have a master’s degree in commerce. My parents always wanted me to become a doctor and so, that was my ambition in life. I was more interested in studying medical science than engineering. I studied science at the Plus Two level but I could not secure the required marks that would have helped me realise my aspiration. I switched over to the commerce stream and completed my graduation and post graduation in the subject. Then I joined Dhenkanal College as a commerce lecturer and ever since, have been in the education sector.