Odisha Children To Get ‘Sishu Vatika’ Admission From April With NEP Implementation

Bhubaneswar: As Odisha gears up for implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 from coming academic session, Sishu Vatika admission will be opened for students in the state in April this year.

This was revealed by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan it while addressing the ‘National Workshop on Implementation of NEP 2020’ in Odisha at Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.

In his inaugural address, the Union Minister urged Odisha Chief Minister to launch the primary education under NEP format on any auspicious date in April this year for enrolment of children attaining 5 years age into Sishu Vatika-3 at 63,000 schools.

Slamming the previous BJD government for ignoring NEP, he said the previous regime spent money on entertainment, dance and music in education. However, the BJP government has understood importance of primary education and decided to implement the NEP in the state to bring reforms in education system.

Stating that children in Odisha will be introduced to NEP from April by offering them toys and entertaining them with songs and music, Dharmendra said, “In May and June, we would personally visit villages to find out the reasons behind student drop-outs in the state and encourage their parents to send their children to schools to get the best education.

Implementation of NEP 2020 will pave the way for assimilation of Odisha’s unique heritage, Odia society’s centuries-old mathematical, scientific and architectural prowess into 21st century modern education. This will provide global exposure and environment to our students while remaining rooted to our ethos, he said.

He said that the Union government has unveiled the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) to revolutionise education in the country. Going forward, the NCF will serve as the basis for Odisha’s State Curriculum Framework. The NCERT will have to ensure that the curriculum, syllabus and teaching-learning material is fully contextualised to Odisha’s civilisational and cultural ethos, history, heritage and knowledge traditions. The State Curriculum Framework will be a true embodiment of ‘Odia Asmita.’

The Union Minister lauded Mohan Majhi government for its initiatives to provide quality education in the state.

During three-day NEP Workshop, discussions will be held on Foundation and Preparatory stages, Middle and secondary stages before implementation of the new education policy in the state.