The State Government has changed the admission criteria for diploma engineering courses from this year by giving 40 per cent weightage to board examination marks. Earlier, only the performance in the Diploma Entrance Test (DET) was taken into account.
The Department of Technical Education and Training (DTET) has decided to give weightage to qualifying examination marks to encourage students do better in their respective board examinations. The change, which is similar to the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains format, will be effective from this year onwards.
DTET additional secretary Bhabagrahi Mishra said an applicant has to score a minimum of 35 per cent in the High School Certificate (HSC) examination. A merit list of the students will be prepared based on their DET performance.
During the web-based counselling, 60 per cent weightage will be given to the DET - 2014 result and the rest 40 per cent to HSC examination marks. The candidates will have to provide all the details in the DET website.
This year also, the form for DET is being sold online only and the last date for filling up of forms is April 25. DET examination will be held on May 18 and the results declared on May 28.
Employment and Technical Education and Training (ETET) Department is taking various measures to improve the technical education scenario in the State. ETET Department secretary CS Kumar said the diploma engineering institutes are facing problems due to lack of teaching staff.
About 400 faculties are expected to be recruited through the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) this year.
There are more than 50,000 seats in private diploma engineering institutes and 6,000 seats in the Government diploma engineering institutes. DTET is awaiting All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) approval for opening eight new Government diploma engineering institutes in the State.