Odisha CM Highlights Dropout Reduction and Quality Education as Top Priorities

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi underscored that drastically reducing the dropout rate and ensuring quality education remain the two biggest challenges facing the state’s education system. Speaking at the State-Level Teachers’ Day Celebration and the Chief Minister’s Education Award Ceremony in Bhubaneswar, he expressed confidence that ongoing initiatives would further strengthen the education sector.

The Chief Minister credited the Mid-Day Meal programme, now extended up to Class 10, for playing a significant role in curbing dropouts by providing nutritious food to children. He also highlighted targeted efforts for children from tribal communities, such as the Madho Singh Handicraft Scheme, which aims to support them and reduce dropout rates.

Paying tribute to former President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Majhi lauded him as a distinguished educationist, philosopher, and statesman who remains a role model for students and teachers alike.

On reforms in school education, Majhi pointed to the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), with the introduction of the State Curriculum Framework designed to nurture creativity and self-reliance among students. He also referenced the Kirti Odisha programme, launched last year, which enhances language skills through stories, songs, games, and interactive activities.

In a major step towards transforming learning spaces, Majhi launched the “Padhiba, Gadhiba Odisha” programme, aimed at improving reading and comprehension skills with simple storybooks and making schools more engaging and vibrant. Additionally, he announced the Godavarish Mishra Adarsh Prathama Vidyalaya Yojana, which will establish one model school in each panchayat to ensure quality primary education. In the first phase, 835 schools are set to be constructed at a cost of Rs 5–7 crore each, and 45,000 teacher posts will be filled over the next three years.

Recognizing achievements in education, the Chief Minister awarded Rs 3 crore to Jharsuguda district for securing the top spot in the Chief Minister’s Education Award programme, followed by Khurda district (Rs 2 crore) and Jagatsinghpur district (Rs 1 crore). He also felicitated 70 teachers, three District Education and Training Institutes (DIETs), three District Education Officers (DEOs), and ten Block Education Officers (BEOs). Two tribal students who cleared the NEET examination were also honored.

Majhi released the Odisha Curriculum Framework for School Education–2025, aligned with the NEP, and unveiled a commemorative coffee table book.

Speaking at the event, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond stressed the state’s focus on life skills, artificial intelligence, and vocational training to make students self-reliant. He added that Odisha’s Child Tracking Survey, aimed at identifying and bringing back dropouts, has emerged as a model initiative for other states.

This event reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the pressing challenges in education and ensuring that every child in the state has access to learning opportunities that are both inclusive and empowering.