House systems to be introduced in Govt and aided high schools in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: With an aim to foster team spirit and healthy competition among students, dedicated ‘house systems’ will be introduced in all government and government aided high schools in Odisha.

The house system in all high schools will be integrated starting next academic year informed Commissioner-cum-Secretary, School and Mass Education (S&ME) department Aswathy S on Wednesday.

The existing model of School Cabinets in Elementary Schools will be also strengthened. While the primary schools will have the provision for dedicated School cabinets, high schools will have inclusive house systems.

Depending on the students roll strength, the high school students will be divided into different houses. Students of each house will participate in different group activities revolving in and around the designed aspirational programme on Saturdays.

Chairing the 38th Executive Council meeting of Mo School Abhiyan, Aswathy S, Secretary advised to introduce Student’s Diary and incept an Academic Calendar for schools in all government and government aided schools. Different directorates along with Mo School will jointly endeavor in this regard.

On the other hand, a special event for alumni members will commence from 26th January at the school and district level with the mission to rope in a greater number of alumni under the umbrella of Mo School for revamping the educational arena of the state.

A proposed programme is underway to organise a state level event with the participation of alumni members, District Education Officers (DEO) and District Collectors in the upcoming month. The best performing districts will be awarded in the programme; decisions for which were taken in the Executive Council meeting.

Proposals worth ₹230.31 crores from 28 districts have been approved in the Executive Council. Within the past two months 45,388 alumni have joined hands with Mo School Abhiyan and have contributed ₹16.21 crores for the development of their alma mater. Mo School Abhiyan has received grants worth ₹60.56 crore from various CSR funds.

Coupled with the donors’ contribution, CSR funds and a 2X matching grant from the state govt., the Executive Council has approved projects worth ₹230.31 crores which will be availed in the development of the 3820 primary, upper primary and high schools across the state.

The alumni have contributed ₹2.89 crores in Balasore, ₹1.06 crores in Jajpur, ₹67 lakhs in Mayurbhanj, ₹59 lakhs in Ganjam and ₹44.51 lakhs in Cuttack districts respectively. Till date, 7.71 lakh alumni have been connected with Mo School Abhiyan.