Key facts
- Odisha will provide free education from kindergarten to postgraduate levels in government schools and colleges.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced free education from kindergarten to postgraduate levels in government schools and colleges. The move aims to benefit all students, particularly those from economically backward classes and girls, and is described as a first-of-its-kind initiative in India.
This policy represents a significant expansion of state-funded education, potentially improving access and equity for students in Odisha, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. It also signals a commitment to enhancing the state's educational infrastructure and human capital development.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that education from kindergarten to postgraduate levels will be provided free of cost in all government schools and colleges across the state. The decision, made on the occasion of the BJP government completing two years in office, aims to make education universally accessible and particularly benefit students from economically backward sections and girls.
Majhi stated that this initiative is likely the first of its kind in India and is expected to strengthen the foundation of the state's youth, contributing to long-term development. He also criticized the previous BJD government for not implementing such measures during its 24-year tenure, emphasizing the need for quality education over mere literacy.
In addition to free education, the Odisha government has been implementing the National Education Policy 2020 and establishing Godavarish Mishra Adarsh Primary Schools in every panchayat. The foundation stone for 322 of the planned 2,200 schools has been laid. The government has also appointed 26,615 teaching and non-teaching staff and plans to hire an additional 45,000 teachers in the next three years. Furthermore, four new universities and 18 new government colleges in rural areas are set to be established, with the ambition to make Odisha the higher education capital of eastern India.