Union Education Minister Reviews Odisha’s School Education Initiatives

Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reviewed the implementation of key school education programs in Odisha with a focus on the state’s efforts under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The review meeting, held in Bhubaneswar, brought together top officials from both the central and state governments.

The meeting was attended by Odisha’s School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, Union Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar, School and Mass Education Secretary Shalini Pandit, OSEPA State Project Director Ananya Das, Director of PM Poshan Anuj Das Pattnaik, Director of SCERT Manoj Kumar Padhi, and Director of Higher Secondary Education Raghuram R. Iyer.

Discussions covered the overall state of school education in Odisha, improvement of school infrastructure, textbook and teaching material preparation in line with the National Curriculum Framework, and teacher training programs. The participants reviewed the implementation of central schemes such as PM Poshan, Samagra Shiksha, and PM SHRI, along with state-led initiatives.

Special focus was given to the integration of pre-school sections, known as Shishu Vatika, in all primary schools, and the development of a state curriculum that reflects local context through a steering committee. The expansion of digital learning, creation of more integrated schools from primary to higher secondary level, and increased access to residential schools like Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Residential Schools were also discussed.

The review highlighted the adoption of the Chief Minister’s Poshan Scheme in coordination with the central PM Poshan program. Under this, students from pre-school to Class 10 are now provided midday meals along with nutritious laddus three times a week and an additional egg, aiming to improve student health and attendance.

Union Minister Pradhan appreciated Odisha’s detailed planning and praised the door-to-door survey carried out by the state to track children aged 0 to 18 years. The survey aims to identify out-of-school children and bring them into the formal education system. It also gathers important data on children’s mother tongues, disabilities, and likely school enrollments in the coming academic year. Pradhan noted that this effort sets an example for other states.

The review comes shortly after a three-day national conference of education secretaries held at ICAR in New Delhi, where states, including Odisha, presented their progress and innovative practices in school education.