Bhubaneswar: In an effort to make higher education more inclusive and accessible, the Odisha government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi.
The pact by the Higher Education department will enable IGNOU to offer a wide range of academic and vocational courses in the Odia language.
The MoU was signed at a ceremony in Bhubaneswar on Monday in the presence of Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who hailed the initiative as a historic milestone in Odisha’s education landscape. “
With this MoU, language will no longer remain a barrier to education. Students can now pursue undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, certificate, and professional courses like BBA and MBA in their mother tongue,” he said.
The Minister said the initiative is in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for the promotion of regional languages in education. By enabling instruction in Odia, the government aims to foster creativity among students, reduce dropout rates, and improve the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education across the state.
Students from across Odisha joined the event virtually and applauded the move. Many expressed that studying in their mother tongue would make learning more engaging and accessible.
The agreement also opens doors for Odia-medium programs in vocational education, travel and tourism management, and other skill-oriented disciplines, significantly expanding opportunities for learners in rural and tribal areas of the state.
- Among those present at the event were Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Higher Education, Arvind Agrawal, Special Secretary Ramakant Nayak, IGNOU Vice-Chancellor Professor Uma Kanjilal, and Registrar Alok Chaube.
