BHUBANESWAR: The proposed merger of Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) and Institute of Mathematics and Applications (IMA) should be welcomed in the State as it would widen the scope for research and teaching in the field of Mathematics, said Omkarnath Mohanty, former vice-chancellor of BPUT on Saturday.
“It will provide better opportunities for many bright students here, who opt for institutions in other States to pursue higher education in Mathematics,” said Mohanty. Addressing a conference on ‘Issues Related to Higher Education in Odisha’, Mohanty asserted that emphasis needs to be laid on teacher’s training which is critical to quality of education. Echoing Mohanty’s idea, academic administrator Dhanada Kanta Mishra emphasised on incorporating skill enhancement programmes in the regular curriculum of technical institutions.
Speaking at the conference, Editor of The New Indian Express, Odisha, Srimoy Kar said though more than 70 per cent of overall student enrolment in higher education is in Arts, Science and Commerce streams, these sectors remain neglected while the focus is primarily on technical education. The students take admission into subjects of Arts mostly due to financial difficulties than their passion for the subject, he added.
Radical change in curriculum should be brought in to make it contemporary, useful and integrated. This apart, educational institutions should act as finishing schools equipping the students with communication skills and behavioural patterns to make them better prepared for interviews, added Kar.
Literature subjects should be encouraged among the students and their infrastructure must be strengthened, said Pratibha Manjari Rath, HoD of Sanskrit, Utkal University. She stressed on setting up digital libraries and improving the student-teacher ratio in educational institutions.
Second session of the event revolved around accessibility issues before students and institutions in education sector. “Investment in higher education by private sector is ultimately benefiting the students,” said Satyakam Mishra, former Director of Higher Education, Odisha.
Mishra added that the programme of Government to support new institutions in backward areas will address the accessibility issues of students.
Quality of education at primary and secondary levels is becoming superficial, said KB Das, Professor of Applied Economics, Utkal University. The research work being done at university level is losing social relevance, he added. Aniruddha Das of IDBI Bank and Additional Chief Secretary, Forest and Environment Department, Kerala and Trust convener Pradeep Kumar Mohanty spoke.
The conference was organised by Saraswati Devi Education and Charitable Trust.