School students in Odisha can now ride for free on government buses thanks to a new announcement.

The Minister of School and Mass Education in Odisha, Nityananda Gond, held a press conference in Bhubaneswar on Friday to announce some exciting news for school students. Under the 'Mukhyamantri Bus Seva' scheme, students will now be able to travel for free on state government-run buses. This move aims to make transportation more accessible and affordable for students across the state.

However, Gond emphasized that to take advantage of this scheme, students must be dressed in their school uniforms and carry their identity cards with them. This requirement ensures that only genuine students benefit from the free transportation and reduces the chances of misuse.

Moreover, the government has also decided to provide free textbooks to all students, from Class I to Class 10. Previously, only students from SC and ST communities received this benefit, but now it has been extended to all students. This decision will ease the financial burden on families and encourage more students to attend school.

In a major step towards aligning with the National Education Policy 2020, the Odisha government has also decided to merge the Board of Secondary Education and the Council of Higher Secondary Education. This decision will result in the formation of a single board that will manage the academics and examinations for Class 10, teacher eligibility tests, as well as Classes XI and XII. The exact location of the new board is yet to be decided.

Gond also mentioned that primary education in the state will undergo significant changes to align with the National Education Policy. The State Council of Educational Research and Training will be developed based on the framework of NCERT, with a primary focus on providing quality education to students. These decisions were made at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday.

Overall, these announcements by the Odisha government showcase their commitment to improving the education sector and making it more accessible and inclusive for all students. This move will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the future of education in the state.

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