Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday emphasised the pivotal role of teachers in nation-building, stating that teachers not only impart education but also shape the character of students and guide them on the right path of life.
Speaking as the chief guest at the centenary celebrations of Chandrashekhar Government High School at Bodapalasa in Keonjhar district, the Chief Minister announced a massive financial package for the historic institution.
Majhi declared a grant of Rs 3 crore for overall infrastructure development of the school. Additionally, he announced Rs 7 crore under the Godavarish Adarsh Vidyalaya Yojana. With this, a total of Rs 10 crore will be provided to the school in the coming days. He also directed the district administration to allot 7 acres of land to the school under the scheme.
“After the formation of the new government, we have taken several initiatives to bring transformative changes in the education sector,” the Chief Minister said.
He highlighted that around 20,000 teachers have been recruited in the last one-and-a-half years, while the process for recruiting another 45,000 new teachers is underway. Besides, 13,000 schematic teachers have already been regularised.
Referring to the state budget, Majhi informed that for the financial year 2026-27, a provision of more than Rs 31,997 crore has been made for the School and Mass Education Department, which constitutes 10.3 percent of the total budget.
He added that the government has initiated steps to establish one Adarsh Primary School in every panchayat of the state. Work has already begun in 2,200 panchayats in the first phase. The Chief Minister further stated that 800 schools across Odisha are being developed as Centres of Excellence under the PM SHRI Yojana.
Special emphasis is being given to improving basic literacy and numeracy skills among students through the Skilled Odisha Mission.
Telkoi MLA Fakir Mohan Nayak, Patna MLA Akhil Chandra Nayak, and Keonjhar District Special Development Council Chairperson Mamita Nayak were among the prominent dignitaries present on the occasion.
Headmaster Nilambar Mahanta delivered the welcome address, while social worker Jagannath Singh proposed the vote of thanks. The centenary celebration witnessed enthusiastic participation from students, teachers, alumni, and local residents, marking a significant milestone for the century-old institution in Bodapalasa.
