BARIPADA: The Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas (OAVs) in the tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj district are reportedly facing severe challenges due to inadequate hostel facilities and a shortage of teaching staff. This has affected the education system, causing dissatisfaction among enrolled students and their families.
Despite the government’s initiative to provide quality education to students from poor families in the district, the absence of 22 principals and 65 teachers has hindered the functioning of the 26 OAVs across Mayurbhanj.
Since their inception, these vacancies have persisted, undermining the objective of imparting quality education under the CBSE pattern to the 10,253 students enrolled in these schools.
The state government had envisioned setting up 26 OAVs in the district’s 26 blocks to ensure accessible education for economically disadvantaged students. However, many schools are struggling with inadequate hostel facilities.
Of the 26 OAVs, five—located in Bangiriposi, Shyamakhunta, Moroda, Pasna, and Badasahi—lack 100-seat hostels for girls. Despite repeated appeals from parents to the district administration and state government, construction of the hostels has not yet commenced.
Additionally, not a single boys’ hostel is operational, affecting over 8,000 male students who are deprived of hostel facilities. Although buildings for 18 boys’ hostels with 100 seats each and eight boys’ hostels with 200 seats each have been constructed, they have not been handed over to the school authorities.
This delay is attributed to poor management and coordination by the relevant authorities, including the collector and district education officer (DEO), who are responsible for the development of the OAVs. Another issue plaguing the OAVs is the lack of transportation fare support, which places an additional financial burden on parents who have to cover the transportation costs for their children. Due to these challenges, many students have poor attendance and some forced to transfer to other schools after obtaining school leaving certificates from the OAVs.
Furthermore, the schools are grappling with shortage of basic infrastructure, such as benches and desks. Despite seven years of operation, these issues persist, forcing parents to urge the district administration to take immediate action to improve the quality of education and facilities at the OAVs.
Contacted, the DEO of Mayurbhanj Purnachandra Sethy stated he was unaware of the transportation charge issues. He mentioned that appointment of teachers has been conducted and new teachers will join soon. He also acknowledged the vacancy of 22 principal posts in the OAVs.
OAVs in trouble
26 OAVs across 26 blocks in Mayurbhanj
10,253 students imparted education in CBSE pattern
5 OAVs lack hostel facilities for girls
Not a single boys’ hostel is operational, affecting over 8,000 male students
Lack of transportation fare support also affects students
18 boys’ hostels with 100 seats each and 8 boys’ hostels with 200 seats each have been constructed
But those are yet to be handed over to school