Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi virtually laid the foundation stones for the second phase of the Godabarish Mishra Model Primary School Scheme on Sunday. Under this phase, 204 institutions will be constructed across all 30 districts of Odisha.
Details of the Scheme
During the stone-laying program held in Kumarbasta, Khurda district, the Chief Minister announced that these schools would be developed on the lines of the historic Satyabadi Bakul Bana School, which was established by the Panchasakhas. With the commencement of the second phase, construction work has now started for a total of 322 schools under the scheme. The state government plans to establish 2,200 Godabarish Mishra model primary schools in different phases, with an investment of Rs 12,000 crore.
Chief Minister's Vision for Education
Majhi emphasized that primary education forms the foundation of a child’s learning journey, and strengthening it is crucial for building a brighter future. He stated that the new schools would provide a conducive learning environment and utilize modern educational technologies to ensure quality education for students. The Chief Minister further said that education today must go beyond textbooks and focus on developing employability, problem-solving abilities, and creativity among children. He expressed confidence that the Godabarish Mishra model primary school initiative would play a transformative role in achieving these goals.
Government Initiatives in Education
Highlighting the government’s focus on education, Majhi referred to several initiatives, including the implementation of the National Education Policy-2020, PM SHRI schools, Sishu Vatika, Heritage School projects, Shaheed Madho Singh Haath Kharcha Scheme for tribal students, and the Chief Minister’s Nutrition Scheme, which provides mid-day meals to students from Class I to X. He also noted that the government has recruited 26,615 teaching and non-teaching staff in the last two years and plans to appoint 45,000 more over the next three years. Efforts such as the Child Tracking Survey and Aasa School Jiba Abhiyan are helping bring out-of-school children back into classrooms.
