Bhubaneswar: Students of colleges – both government and private – will be taught the importance of hockey and Odisha’s immense contribution in promoting it once every week in the new academic session, according to a directive issued by the Higher Education Department.
However, this will not be a part of the college curriculum.
According to sources, students of government, aided and non-government aided colleges will congregate in an open space on their campuses every Monday, when they will be told about hockey and its significance in the current times in both English and Odia languages. The faculty members will also inform them about contribution of Odisha and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s support to the sport.
All the institutions have also been directed to install banners across the campus, highlighting the legacy of hockey.
This came a few days after students of classes I to X in all schools across the state were administered a note “India will shine in the 2024 Olympics” on how Odisha is promoting the cause of hockey and how the sport can be chosen as a profession. “The objective is to promote hockey and to create awareness among students about hockey and the Paris Olympics 2024,” said Anupam Saha, state project director of Odisha School Education Programme Authority.
The School and Mass Education department has also facilitated formation of ‘My School Hockey Club’, where students above Class VI can join and learn the sport.
Notably, Odisha has been the official sponsor of both the Men and Women National Hockey Teams since 2018. The men’s hockey team bagged gold medal for India while the women’s team won a bronze medal in the recently concluded Asian Games.
