In a significant move aimed at reshaping the academic landscape of the state, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Odisha's School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond held a crucial meeting in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. The high-level discussion focused on crafting a detailed roadmap for a transformative overhaul of Odisha's education sector and the effective execution of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP).
Blueprint for a Future-Ready Education System
The ministers laid out a comprehensive vision to revamp learning in the state. A special emphasis was placed on the full-scale implementation of NEP 2020. A key action point from the meeting is the preparation of new textbooks aligned with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE). This move is designed to modernize the curriculum and bring it in sync with national standards and contemporary learning needs.
Beyond policy, the meeting involved a thorough review of the progress of various centrally-sponsored education schemes currently running in Odisha. The goal is to ensure these programs are delivering optimal results and contributing effectively to the state's educational objectives.
Targeting Core Challenges: Outcomes, Retention, and Equity
The dialogue went beyond administrative reviews to tackle the fundamental challenges plaguing the school system. The ministers discussed concrete strategies to achieve multiple critical goals:
- Improving learning outcomes to ensure students are genuinely gaining knowledge and skills.
- Enhancing student retention and reducing dropout rates, particularly at higher grade levels.
- Ensuring quality, inclusive, equitable, and universal education for every child in Odisha.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan articulated the ambitious end goal of this collaborative effort. He stated that the aim is to bring about a revolutionary transformation in the education sector to build a future-ready and 'Prosperous Odisha' by the year 2036.
Double-Engine Government's Commitment
Pradhan highlighted the synergistic cooperation between the central and state governments. He credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the cooperation of Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, emphasizing that this double-engine government is fully committed to streamlining and strengthening the state's education system.
In a firm assurance of support, the Union Minister told Minister Nityananda Gond that the Central government would extend all possible assistance to meet Odisha's specific education needs. This partnership signals a concerted push to translate policy into on-ground reality, setting the stage for a major educational renaissance in the state.
