Govt. School Students, Parents Hail Cabinet Decision for Reservation in Engg, Medical Colleges

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet’s decision on reservation for Government school students in engineering and medical studies has brought smiles among the thousands of students and equally to parents.

Within no time students studying in the Government run schools and their parents across the State have expressed their happiness over Cabinet decision.

They have also expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for taking such a historic and first of its kind step in the entire country.

“We are very happy that Chief Minister Sri Naveen Patnaik has taken this step. Thousands of students like me who are studying in state-run schools will definitely get benefit out of it. We are once again thankful to Naveen Patnaik sir for this step”, said, Sudhamani Das, a student of Brundaban Govt High School, Hinjilicut in Ganjam district.

Expressing similar views, Santosh Sahu, a student of standard- VIII in Koraput said, “The Government’s step will certainly encourage meritorious students to go for engineering and medical courses.”

Meanwhile parents of the students have also welcomed Government’s step.

“It will boost the morale of the students to crack the prestigious engineering and medical courses. Besides, it will also helpful for enhancement of enroll in Government school.” said Raghunath Meher, a resident of Bargarh town.

Echoing similar sentiment, Sailendra Dash, a resident of Kalimela in Malkangiri district said, “It’s a welcome step of the government. It will create a level-playing field for the students who are studying in Government run schools to crack the exam”.

It will help students fulfill their dreams to become doctors and engineers, said Rama Chandra Sahu, a parent of standard IXth student in Berhampur.

The centralized competitive exams like MBBS and engineering require special skill sets which are imparted mainly through the coaching centres and online coaching classes. Since such centres being limited to mostly urban pockets and the high economic cost of access to such facilities, thousands of meritorious students from the government school system are at a disadvantage and therefore, fare lower than their potential in the entrance exams . This is unfair competition for the vast majority of children in Odisha.

To finalize the modalities of implementation of the above in-principle decision, a high powered committee headed by Retired Judge of the Hon’ble High Court, will be constituted with eminent persons including educationists as members. The Committee will be mandated to submit the report within three months so that the recommendations can be implemented from the next academic year.