Bhubaneswar, Jul 18: To help students make informed career choices after school, the Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) has launched a comprehensive career guidance initiative for Class 9 and 10 students across the state. Under the programme, career guidance webinars will be conducted on the first and third Saturdays of every month from 10:30 am to 11:30 am, beginning this Saturday and continuing until January 2027.

According to an official communication sent to all District Education Officers, the initiative will feature 21 career guidance webinars, with the first 13 sessions scheduled up to January 30, 2027. Students will receive expert guidance on a wide range of career options, including UPSC, OPSC, Hotel Management, Police Services, Journalism, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, Vocational Education, Health Sciences, and several other emerging fields.

The inaugural webinar will focus on "Self Discovery and Career Planning," helping students identify their interests, strengths, and suitable career paths. Headmasters have been directed to make arrangements for students to attend the live sessions through smart classrooms. The webinars will also be stored in ICT labs, school libraries, and other digital devices for future access. YouTube links and Google Tracker details will be shared through WhatsApp groups, while student attendance will be monitored by the department.

As part of the programme, one boy and one girl from each class will act as student representatives, conveying questions and feedback from their classmates during the sessions. The webinars will also introduce students to different academic streams-Science, Commerce, Arts, and Vocational Education while providing guidance on admissions, career prospects, and opportunities available in each field.

The second webinar, scheduled for August 1, will focus on "Police and Law Enforcement." Students will gain insights into careers in police services, crime investigation, forensic science, traffic and public safety, disaster management, emergency response, and special security forces, enabling them to better understand career opportunities in the law enforcement sector.