Banpur/Bhubaneswar: In a major push to overhaul the grassroots education system in the state, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday (January 7, 2026) officially launched the Godabarisha Mishra Model Primary School (Godabarisha Mishra Adarsha Prathamika Vidyalaya) scheme.
During the state-level event held at Banpur in Khordha district—the birthplace of legendary educationist and social reformer Pandit Godabarisha Mishra—the Chief Minister laid the foundation stones for 118 model primary schools spread across 30 districts.
Key Details of the Scheme:
Phased Implementation: The state government plans to establish 2,200 model primary schools in the first phase over the next four years (2025–2029).
Budgetary Outlay: An investment of ₹12,000 crore has been earmarked for the first phase.
Current Allocation: A provision of ₹3,000 crore has been made in the current financial year (2025-26) to kickstart the project.
Long-term Goal: The ultimate objective is to establish one such model school in every Gram Panchayat of the state, covering all 6,794 panchayats.
Construction Cost: Each school is estimated to be developed at a cost of approximately ₹5 crore to ₹7 crore, depending on the specific Detailed Project Report (DPR).
Features of the Model Schools:
The scheme is designed to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to bridge the rural-urban education gap. Key features include:
Infrastructure: Each school will be built on at least 2 to 5 acres of land and will feature digital classrooms, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) laboratories, and modern sports facilities.
Scope of Education: The schools will cater to students from Pre-primary (Shishu Vatika) to Class VIII, with a minimum enrollment of 100 students per school.
Foundational Learning: A strong focus will be placed on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) to ensure students are proficient in basic skills by Class III.
Free Transport: To ensure accessibility for children in remote and tribal habitations, the government will provide free transportation facilities.
Teacher Development: The scheme includes provisions for advanced teacher recruitment, professional training, mentorship, and career guidance.
Addressing the gathering, CM Mohan Charan Majhi stated that this initiative is a realization of his own childhood experiences as a student from a tribal family. “By 2036, when Odisha completes 100 years of its formation, the state will be a prosperous one. These schools will play a crucial role as today’s students are the nation-builders of tomorrow,” the CM remarked.
The event was attended by School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, Law and Works Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, Puri MP Sambit Patra, and several local MLAs. Minister Gond highlighted that the state is also conducting door-to-door child-tracking surveys to ensure no child remains outside the education system.