Bhubaneswar, Aug 22: With an aim to promote education and empower the next generation, Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond on Friday unveiled a series of student-centric initiatives and announced free rides for all school students in government-run buses.
He clarified that students wearing school uniforms and carrying identity cards will be allowed to travel free of charge on government-run buses.
The Minister also announced that, unlike before when only SC and ST students received free textbooks, the government will now provide free textbooks to all students. Students from Class I to Class X will benefit from this initiative.
Gond further stated that primary education will undergo significant changes in accordance with the National Education Policy. He added that the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) will be developed based on the NCERT framework, with an increased emphasis on providing quality education.
He acknowledged that many schools in the state lack proper infrastructure but assured that the government would prioritize upgrading these facilities. He also mentioned that discussions had been held with the Chief Minister to bring improvements in the near future.
