Bhubaneswar, 05 September (H.S.): Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday said Odisha has become the first state in the country to provide free education from kindergarten to postgraduate level, while announcing that 45,000 vacant teacher posts will be filled over the next three years.

Addressing a Teachers’ Day celebration at the Secondary Board High School in Cuttack, Majhi interacted with students and advised them to focus on their studies and career goals instead of spending excessive time on social media.

“Students’ first responsibility is to study well, acquire skills and contribute to the development of themselves and the country,” the Chief Minister said, urging them to stay away from activities that could hinder their careers and not fall prey to misinformation.

Majhi also stressed the importance of a stronger and more friendly relationship between teachers and students and urged students to seek the blessings of their parents and teachers to achieve success.

Highlighting the significance of education, the Chief Minister said, “Education is not merely about imparting knowledge; it is a great process of shaping human beings.” He also recalled the contribution of teachers to the lives of eminent personalities and paid tribute to former President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on his birth anniversary.

The Chief Minister highlighted several initiatives aimed at strengthening Odisha’s education system. He said the government is developing 2,200 Godabarish Mishra Model Primary Schools at an estimated cost of ₹12,000 crore and has opened 45,000 Shishu Vatika centres for pre-school children.

He also highlighted the provision of mid-day meals and textbooks for students of Classes IX and X, the Shaheed Madho Singh Haath Kharcha Yojana for tribal students and the government’s commitment to filling 45,000 teacher vacancies within three years.

Majhi praised the role of the Panchsakha Shiksha Setu initiative in involving alumni in the integrated transformation of schools. He said the collective contribution of teachers, students, alumni and the public would help build a strong, prosperous and self-reliant Odisha.

During the programme, the Chief Minister felicitated teachers Ashok Kumar Satapathy, Kumudini Jena, Shakuntala Mohanty, Daitari Sahu and Jayanti Majhi for their dedicated service to education and their contribution to shaping students’ futures.

The Chief Minister said the teachers had played an important role in carrying forward the school’s proud legacy.

Several elected representatives and senior officials, including Mahanaga MLA Sarada Prasad Pradhan, Cuttack Sadar MLA Prakash Chandra Sethi, Choudwar-Cuttack MLA Souvic Biswal, Banki MLA Devi Ranjan Tripathy, School and Mass Education Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Dr N. Tirumala Naik, Cuttack Collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde and Board of Secondary Education President Srikanta Tarai, attended the event.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda