Students were seen wearing face masks while entering the capital’s colleges. Classes were organized for the newcomers in each subject. Officials expect the number of students to increase after the Diwali holiday is over. Within the next two days, students will also take admission in the hostels.
Niranjan Mishra, principal of BJB Autonomous College, said more than 60 per cent of the first year students attended classes on Monday. “Many students come from far-flung places of Odisha and outside. Since the festival of Diwali will be celebrated on November 4, the attendance will increase after this festival is over,” he said. Rajdhani College principal Sasmita Sarangi said that every department has conducted classes for UG first year students. “Around 50 per cent students attended classes on the first day. The last date to apply for hostel accommodation is November 3. After that the attendance will increase.
Similarly, Sasmita Mohanty, President of the PG Council, Rama Devi Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, said that she got 50 per cent attendance on the first day. “We have plans to organize orientation programs for the newcomers after 15 days,” he said.
Bablu Palai, a UG first year student from Ganjam, said he attended two classes- English and Political Science on the first day. “It gives me pleasure to attend offline classes after many months. I was excited to meet new friends and attend classes in a new college.”
Though Phase-I Admission has been completed, Higher Education Department will conduct Phase-II Admission for those students who will qualify offline board exams of Plus II Arts, Science, Commerce and Vocational streams. The results of the exam are not published yet.
Qualified students of this offline exam can fill their common application form through Student Academic Management System (SAMS) portal and participate in UG admission process. Vacant seats in degree colleges will be filled in the second phase. These students will join the classes later.
Meanwhile, the Higher Education Department has also announced that the PG 1st year classes will start from 15th November.
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