Bhubaneswar, 16 January (H.S.): In a significant step towards modernising school education, a high-level consultation was held in Bhubaneswar in the presence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gand. The meeting brought together master trainers and academic leadership teams from all 30 districts of the state to finalise the roadmap for new textbooks and teacher training.

Under this initiative, the new textbooks for classes 1 to 8 will be implemented from the academic session 2026-27, based on the Odisha State Curriculum Framework (OSCF). Around 1.67 lakh teachers across the state will undergo extensive training to become proficient in the new curriculum.

Special focus was laid on leveraging technology to ensure continuous professional development of teachers and strengthening mother-tongue instruction up to class 5, aiming to enhance foundational learning and cognitive skills of students. Early education efforts will prioritise improving students’ reading, writing, and numeracy skills.

For students from classes 6 to 10, a 10-day bag-free learning program will be introduced to foster practical knowledge and critical thinking. Additionally, the program will focus on the nutrition and health of children from birth to class 12, adopting a holistic perspective.

Speaking at the session, Dharmendra Pradhan emphasised that, through the visionary National Education Policy, the government is committed to bringing transformative changes in Odisha’s education sector and building a developed Odisha.

The programme was attended by senior officials from NCERT, the Ministry of Education, the State Education Department, as well as representatives from the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas, District Education Officers, Block Education Officers, and representatives of the District Education and Training Centers.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda