The Odisha government has announced two major measures for school students, free textbooks and mid-day meals for those studying in Classes 9 and 10. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the decisions as part of the state’s efforts to make education more accessible and reduce the financial burden on families.So far, free textbooks were being provided to students up to Class 8. With the latest decision, the benefit will now cover two more classes.
Free textbooks for Classes 9 and 10
Students in Classes 9 and 10 across Odisha will now receive their textbooks free of cost. The move is expected to provide relief to families who often have to spend a considerable amount on books and other school requirements.The decision will be particularly helpful for students from low- and middle-income families. Parents will no longer have to worry about arranging money for the prescribed textbooks, while students will have easier access to the material needed for their studies.The government had earlier limited the free textbook facility to students up to Class 8. Extending it to Classes 9 and 10 means that the support will now continue into the secondary school years.
Mid-day meals extended to Classes 9 and 10
The government has also announced mid-day meals for students of Classes 9 and 10.The move is aimed at improving students’ nutrition and encouraging them to attend school regularly. For many families, especially those facing financial difficulties, a meal at school can provide important support.The government expects the initiative to help students remain in school and continue their education without facing additional financial pressure at home.
Odisha’s KG-to-PG free education plan
The latest decisions are part of Odisha’s larger plan to make education free from KG to PG.The government has said it wants financial difficulties to stop being a reason for children to drop out of education. The plan covers different stages of education and aims to make studying more affordable for families across the state.Free textbooks and meals for Classes 9 and 10 are the latest additions to this approach. The measures could be especially important for children from economically weaker families, for whom the cost of books, food, and other education-related expenses can become a hurdle.
Textbook errors also came under scrutiny
The announcement comes at a time when the quality of school textbooks in Odisha has also faced scrutiny.Several errors were reportedly found in SCERT textbooks, including problems related to the sequence of content and spelling. Following the issue, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi directed the Crime Branch to conduct a criminal investigation.The textbook controversy has also highlighted the need for proper checking of study material before it reaches students.As the government expands the free textbook scheme to Classes 9 and 10, ensuring that students receive correct and properly reviewed books will be equally important.
What the decisions mean for students
The two announcements are aimed at addressing some of the basic difficulties faced by school students.Free books will help in reducing the cost of education for parents, while mid-day meals will help in providing nutrition to the children as well as making them attend classes regularly. Both the policies would together help in continuing the education of poor students.But, success of the programs would largely depend on their implementation. Distribution of textbooks at the right time and monitoring of mid-day meals would be of great importance along with keeping the educational content up to mark.For the time being, this extension is yet another step towards the vision of Odisha to make education affordable for everyone.
