Implementation of National Education Policy in Odisha: Three-day National Workshop to begin from tomorrow to chalk phase-wise implementation plan
In order to streamline the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 in Odisha, the state government has decided to hold a three-day National Workshop from January 21st to 23rd.
Bhubaneswar: In order to streamline the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 in Odisha, the state government has decided to hold a three-day National Workshop from January 21st to 23rd.
The workshop will be inaugurated in the presence of the Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and the Union Education Minister Dharmedra Pradhan. The workshop deliberation will sensitize the state teams and develop a roadmap for phase-wise implementation of NEP in Odisha.
Let’s know more about NEP, 2020 and the action taken by Odisha government so far to roll-out the new education policy:
- The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 issued by the Ministry of Education (MoE) with its commitment to high-quality education for all, has envisaged landmark reforms in the education system for the 21st century. Guided by its pillars of access, equity, quality affordability, and accountability it lays special emphasis on vocational skills, education in the mother tongue, digital education, holistic development of the child, competency-based assessments, and universal acquisition of foundational literacy and numeracy skills.
- Odisha State has planned to undertake a phased intervention of NEP 2020 from the academic year 2025-26. In the first phase of the implementation, the Department of School and Mass Education, Odisha earlier in the month vide its notification no. 1234 dated 15.01.2025 has announced the implementation of National Education Policy in the State and adoption of National Curriculum Frameworks with local contextualization as the State Curriculum Frameworks.
- As part of the State’s initial steps for policy implementation, Nipun Odisha was launched in September 2024, in alignment with the national policy guidelines underlining the commitment to universal acquisition of foundational literacy and numeracy. PM Shri schools are being set up in the State as model schools aimed at demonstrating the vision outlined by the policy.
- The age of enrollment for grade 1 has been revised to be 6 + years as on 1st September of the concerned academic year and opening of “Shishu Vatika” in all primary schools for pre-school education for children who have attained the age of 5 and above, as envisaged in NEP 2020, has been announced vide notification 1753 dated 20.01.2025
- The revision in the State Curriculum Frameworks will be initiated in a phased manner from academic year 2025-26, with the National Curriculum Framework Foundational Stage (NCF FS), being adopted in the first phase, with local contextualization for the State.
- The first 15 years of a child’s education will be modified phase-wise to the 5+3+3+4 structure covering ages 3-18, as outlined in NEP 2020. The academic structure envisaged under the NEP comprises of Foundational stage (5 years) spanning from ages 3-8, corresponding to 3 years of pre-school and 2 years of Grades 1 and 2, Preparatory Stage (3 years) spanning from ages 8 – 11, corresponding grades 3 to 5, Middle Stage (3 years) spanning from ages 11-14, corresponding grades 6 to 8, and Secondary Stage (4 years) spanning from ages 14-18, corresponding grades 9 -12. The State in its initial phase of the policy implementation is focusing on modification in the foundational stage and will roll out implementation for the preparatory, middle and secondary stages in subsequent phases.
- Earlier Government of Odisha had constituted a high-level Task force under the chairpersonship of Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary to suggest measures to be taken up for implementation of NEP 2020 in the state of Odisha. Subsequently, Government of Odisha has constituted a State Steering Committee to develop the State Curriculum Frameworks, chaired by Prof. Nityanand Pradhan, Former Principal of RIE, Bhopal. The committee will be responsible for preparing the State Curriculum Frameworks in alignment with the National Curriculum Frameworks in the Local Contextualization.
