Bhubaneswar, January 20: Odisha is gearing up to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, with the rollout set to begin in the academic year 2025-26. In preparation, a three-day National Workshop will be held from January 21 to 23 in Bhubaneswar, focusing on the strategy for NEP's introduction in the state.
The workshop will be inaugurated by Odisha's Honorable Chief Minister, Mr. Mohan Charan Manjhi, and the Honorable Union Minister, Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan. It aims to engage various state teams and formulate a detailed roadmap for implementing NEP 2020 in Odisha over several phases.
As part of the first phase, the State Department of School and Mass Education has issued a notification to adopt the National Curriculum Frameworks (NCF), localizing them to form the State Curriculum Frameworks. This aligns with NEP's goal of enhancing foundational literacy and numeracy. In September 2024, Odisha launched the Nipun Odisha initiative, in line with national policies, to promote universal foundational literacy and numeracy across the state.
Additionally, PM Shri schools are being established as model institutions to showcase the vision outlined in NEP 2020. A significant policy shift includes revising the enrollment age for Grade 1, now set to 6+ years as of September 1 for the academic year. As part of NEP’s emphasis on early childhood education, Shishu Vatika (preschool) programs will be introduced in all primary schools for children aged 5 and above.
The phased revision of the State Curriculum Frameworks will begin with the adoption of the National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage (NCF FS) in 2025-26, incorporating local contextualization. NEP's 5+3+3+4 structure will guide the education transformation, covering ages 3-18. The structure includes:
Foundational Stage (ages 3-8): 3 years of preschool and 2 years of Grades 1 and 2.
Preparatory Stage (ages 8-11): Corresponding to Grades 3-5.
Middle Stage (ages 11-14): Corresponding to Grades 6-8.
Secondary Stage (ages 14-18): Corresponding to Grades 9-12.
Initially, Odisha will focus on implementing changes in the foundational stage, with plans to extend the reforms to the preparatory, middle, and secondary stages in subsequent phases.
Earlier, the Odisha government established a high-level Task Force, led by the Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary, to provide recommendations for NEP 2020's implementation. The government has also formed a State Steering Committee, chaired by Prof. Nityanand Pradhan, former Principal of RIE, Bhopal. This committee is responsible for creating the State Curriculum Frameworks that align with both the National Curriculum Frameworks and the specific needs of Odisha.
