Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday unveiled the Godabarisha Mishra Model Primary School Scheme and laid the foundation stones for 118 model primary schools across the state, marking a major push to strengthen grassroots education.
The scheme was launched at Banpur in Khurda district, the birthplace of Pandit Godabarisha Mishra, a renowned educationist and social reformer who played a pivotal role in the development of primary education in Odisha.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the initiative is aimed at transforming primary education in rural, remote, and tribal regions by upgrading infrastructure, ensuring adequate teacher deployment, and modernising learning facilities. He announced that the state government has earmarked ₹12,000 crore in the first phase for the development of 2,200 model primary schools.
Majhi said the model schools would be established in every gram panchayat of Odisha in a phased manner, with special emphasis on delivering quality education in underserved areas. The scheme aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and will feature digital classrooms, STEM-based learning, sports infrastructure, and a strong focus on foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN).
Calling the initiative a transformative step for rural education, the Chief Minister said the schools would help bridge the long-standing gap between urban and rural learning environments. He added that free transportation facilities would be provided to students from remote habitations to ensure better access to education.
Each Godabarisha Mishra Model Primary School will be built on over two acres of land, enroll a minimum of 100 students, and offer education from pre-primary to Class VIII.
In a post on social media platform X, Majhi described the scheme as deeply personal. “The launch of the Godabarisha Mishra Adarsh Primary School Scheme in Banpur reflects my own childhood experiences as a student from an ordinary tribal family and a vision I hold for the future of our children,” he wrote. He reiterated that the initiative would provide students with a world-class learning environment.
The Chief Minister further stated that the government plans to set up such schools in all 6,794 gram panchayats of Odisha over multiple phases.
The launch event was attended by School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, Works Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, Puri MP Sambit Patra, and several local MLAs.
