Odisha Govt to Upgrade 14 High Schools to Higher Secondary Level to Tackle Dropout Rates

Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to curb the high dropout rates in Odisha, the state government announced plans to upgrade 14 high schools under the Department of ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare to higher secondary schools. This announcement was made by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi during a review meeting at Lok Seva Bhavan on Tuesday.

“There is a pressing need to upgrade more high schools to reduce dropout rates,” Chief Minister Majhi emphasized. He underscored the importance of providing uninterrupted education opportunities, especially in tribal-dominated districts where dropout rates are particularly high.

Alongside the school upgrades, Majhi directed officials to enhance the conditions of hostels associated with various primary schools managed by the department. He highlighted the state government’s initiative to improve 301 hostels in the undivided Koraput district and suggested increasing their capacity to accommodate 100 students where necessary.

The Chief Minister also stressed the need to improve the quality of food provided to children in these hostels. He highlighted the importance of health, safety, and cleanliness, and recommended that ministers and secretaries regularly visit schools and hostels to ensure proper management.

The establishment of Eklavya Model Schools was another focal point of the meeting. While 114 such schools have been approved for Odisha, 32 are currently operational, with 15 more expected to open for admission this year. The Chief Minister urged officials to prioritize and expedite the necessary approvals for these schools.

Other key programs discussed included the ‘Madho Singh Hatakharcha Yojana,’ Forest Land Rights, Anwesha, PM Janman, and the Special Development Council, all aimed at reducing dropout rates in schools managed by the department.

The review meeting was attended by several high-ranking officials, including ST & SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Department Minister Nityananda Gond, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Nikunja Bihari Dhal, Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Revenue and Forest and Environment Satyabrata Sahu, and Secretary of the SC/ST Department Roopa Roshan Sahoo.