Bhubaneswar, Sept. 24: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has handed over appointment letters to 153 degree college lecturers and said 700 more teachers were under various phases of recruitment.

Attending a workshop on quality education and the role of lecturers yesterday, Naveen said his government had ensured recruitment at over 1,600 aided colleges last year and steps were on to recruit more teachers this year.

Higher education minister Ananta Das had earlier admitted in the Assembly that out of the sanctioned strength of 986, there were 581 teachers in position, leaving a vacancy of 405. Besides, 1,167 non-teaching posts were lying vacant in the seven state-run universities against the total sanctioned strength of 2,541.

Apart from the seven universities, 47 out of total 52 principal posts, 720 of 1,986 lecturer posts and 1,285 of 2,386 non-teaching posts are vacant, the minister admitted.

Naveen also listed out the initiatives to improve the quality of education in colleges. 'My government has taken many initiatives to improve the facilities in colleges, bringing up improvements in study curriculum and in examination reforms,' he said.

Naveen said the government had implemented the long-felt need to separate Plus Two classes from the undergraduate system. The number of state government universities has increased to 12, and the number of NAAC-accredited educational institutions is going up, with nine universities having A grade. 'We have also introduced an online admission system,' he said.

He also handed over laptops to students selected under the Biju Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana. 'About 60,000 students have received laptops so far since 2013, and another 15,000 will receive it in the next two weeks,' he said.

About 25,000 fresh students were given the state government's scholarship every year. Besides, students are given loans for higher education at concession rate of 1 per cent under the Kalinga Siksha Saathi Yojana.