Education is an indispensable input for development of human resources. While the overall literacy rate in 1951 was 15.8%, it was only 4.5% among females. The overall literacy rate in Orissa has increased to 63.1% and that for males to 75.3% and that for females to 50.5% as per 2001 census. The state has 9 universities and 1679 general colleges. By the end of 2003-04, there were 34 Engineering colleges including 5 Government colleges and 27 Engineering schools / polytechnics including 13 in the public sector. There were 176 Industrial Training Institute including 24 under Government and 152 under private management. In the field of medical science, the state has three medical colleges, one dental college, one Pharmacy College, three ayurvedic colleges, four homoeopathic colleges and one nursing college in the Government sector. Besides there are two Ayurvedic colleges, two homoeopathic colleges and twenty-one pharmacy colleges in the private sector. In 1950-51, there were 9801 primary schools with 16525 teachers and 3.15 lakh students. By the end of 2003-04 it was 42104 no. of primary schools with 78233 teachers and 4918067 students. Middle schools and secondary schools are 11510 and 6938 nos. respectively. As per 2004-05 survey, the no. of Government general colleges were 97 and aided colleges are 487. Since 1950-51, there has been a considerable expansion in the number of educational institutions, enrollment and number of teachers at all levels. The UNICEF assisted ECE programme is being implemented in the state since 1982 with the objective of motivating children in the age group of 3-5 years towards primary education with a view to achieve the aim of Universalisation of Elementary Education (UEE). ICDS projects and agencies like state council of child welfare and state social welfare advisory board are administering the pre-primary stage education through Anganwadies, Balwadis and Creche centers. The District Primary Education (DPEP) was launched in Orissa in 1996-97 with a view to achieve the long cherished goal of universalisation of primary education in the state through district specific planning. Sarbasikhya Abhiyan (SSA) programme is being implemented in the state. |
