Bhubaneswar, 22 August (H.S.): In a major step towards implementing the National Education Policy (NEP), the Odisha Government has decided to merge the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) and the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) into a single, unified education board.

School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond announced on Friday that employees will be appointed in accordance with the new board’s regulations, while further decisions, including whether the board’s headquarters will be located in Cuttack or Bhubaneswar, will be taken in due course.

Along with this structural reform, the government has also approved the regularization of schematic primary teachers. Under the NEP framework, Odisha will recruit 44,433 teachers over the next three years, with 15,000 appointments annually. In addition, Sishu Sevikas will soon be engaged in 45,000 primary schools across the state to strengthen early childhood education.

To extend support to students, the government has decided to provide free textbooks to Class 9 and 10 students in government and government-aided schools. Addressing health concerns of students residing in hostels, the department has also planned to appoint one Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) for every 300 students, the Minister informed.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda