High-Level Committee Meets Odisha Higher Education Minister on Teachers’ Issues

A high-level committee formed under the directive of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi met Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj to address the concerns of teachers and staff working under the School & Mass Education and Higher Education departments.

The committee, chaired by retired IAS officer Ashok Kumar Tripathy, presented the issues faced by university and college faculty members and staff. Tripathy discussed with the minister how to resolve long-standing demands raised by various teachers’ associations.

Key points of discussion included skill development of faculty under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, speedy appointment of vice-chancellors and professors under the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act 2024, granting autonomous status to colleges, and filling vacant teaching and non-teaching posts. The committee also highlighted the need to address pending demands raised by associations representing teachers and employees.

The meeting emphasised the importance of strengthening higher education in Odisha by ensuring adequate staffing and implementing reforms. The minister assured cooperation in resolving the issues and acknowledged the urgency of filling critical vacancies.

Committee members present included Shantanu Kumar Sahu (Odisha Finance Service, Financial Advisor and Independent Secretary, Home Department), Sanatan Panda (retired Odisha Education Service officer), and Manoranjan Mishra (former Principal, Government Women’s College, Bolangir).