In a letter to vice-chancellors and heads of 20 state public universities and institutions in the state, the governor expressed concern about the way SFCs are currently run in state public universities, particularly the way the SFCs dominate the regular Go to the courses of the respective universities.
Now universities and institutes offer two types of courses- Regular and SFC. The SFC is being run through ‘Direct Mode’ and ‘PPP Mode’. Direct mode means where an SFC is run directly by a university without the involvement of any private organization. PPP mode means where an SFC is run by a University through or in association with a private organization. In order to streamline the SFCs in the state’s public universities, he asked the higher education institutions to follow his four directions. He said that the student strength of all SFCs should not exceed 20 per cent of the total student strength of all regular courses. If a university has 1000 students per year including all regular courses, it can run SFC for maximum admission student strength of 200 per year.
If the current student strength of SFC in a university is more than 20 per cent, it should be brought down to the prescribed limit from academic year 2022-23 by reducing the number of seats of SFC or by closing some well. – Performing SFCs. The institutes should take a decision regarding reduction of seats and closure of courses by June 30. These SFCs will continue for a year or two till the last batch of already admitted students pass out, the official instruction said.
The Governor’s letter states that in future, new SFCs may be started by the universities adhering to the maximum cap on the number of students. But all new SFCs should run in ‘Direct Mode’. “No fresh SFCs in PPP mode will be allowed at all. Admission of students to SFCs should be done through an open and merit-based selection process,” the governor’s letter said.
The universities/institutions have been asked to send the compliance report of these instructions by July 7 for the perusal of the Chancellor.
On April 4, TOI had reported a story about the plight of BSc Nursing (self-finance course) students from the rural campus of Utkal University. They were pursuing their SFC in PPP mode. He had alleged that the private organization running the courses did not have adequate teaching staff, library, hostel, laboratory and other facilities.
Rama Devi Mahila Vishwavidyalaya Vice-Chancellor Aparajita Choudhary welcomed the decision and said that the university would implement these directions. Other Vice Chancellors also welcomed the move.