Educational Development of Odisha After Independence

Odisha has a literacy percentage of 63.61 which is below the national average in educational development. Odisha was one of the most backward states in India till the dawn of independence. Since independence Odisha is improving and competing with other states of India to become a prosperous state. It has now more than 548 general colleges, three Medical College, eight government Engineering college, twelve B.Ed. training colleges, ninety C.T. and Hindi training colleges, two under graduate college for physical education , one dance and Music College(Bhubaneswar). About six thousand Higher Secondary and Multipurpose Schools, thirtyfour thousand Middle senior Basic and Ashram Schools, fifty-four thousand Lower Primary Schools, One thousand Upper Primary Schools, Seven Teachers training Schools and three Schools for Handicapped has been established in the state. In the sphere of education the people of Odisha have been developing rapidly.

Adult education programme was given priority in the year 1979. In 1982-83 there were 4,695 adult education centres in different parts of the State. 85,186 persons were declared literate.

Physical education is compulsory at the secondary and higher education level. Trained teachers are appointed in schools and colleges to train students.
Women education was badly neglected in Odisha before independence. Now the state Government has given special emphasis on women.

The tribal and Rural Welfare department has opened special type of schools for the benefit of the tribal children in the tribal areas.

The institute of Physics , the Eastern regional Language Centre, Institute of Social Research beinestablished at Bhubaneswar for the development of education in various fields.90 numbers of private engineering colleges are there in the State for which a large number of Non Odiya students comes to Odisha to seek technical education. Along with three Government College three private colleges are also there. 10 numbers government and 62 numbers of private MBA colleges, 13 government and 46 numbers of private MCA colleges and 16 private Pharmacy colleges are here.

Utkal University, Vanibihar and Ravenshaw University, Cuttack are the two eminent Institute for post Graduate and Under Graduate programme, where the students from out of India comes for graduation.

The Orissa university of Agricultural and Technology(OUAT) was established in the year 1962 under the provision of the Odisha act. The university offers graduate and under graduate programme in Agriculture, Horticulture, Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Agricultural Engineering, Fishery science, Home science and Forestry. Huge number of Non Residential Indians comes here to seek the Agricultural education.