Bhubaneswar: 29th Aug 2025:In a major decision to strengthen school education, the Odisha government will establish a single Board of Secondary Education by merging the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) and the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE).
Chief Minister announced the decision during a meeting with the School & Mass Education Department today. Alongside, it was also declared that all students up to Class X will now receive free textbooks.
Key Announcements:
Massive recruitment drive: In the next three years, about 44,433 primary teacher posts will be filled. This includes the creation of around 40,000 new posts and filling up of vacant ones. Each year, about 15,000 posts will be covered.
Contract teachers regularised: Contractual primary teachers will be made permanent.
Free textbooks expansion: Earlier, free textbooks were provided only up to Class VIII, and free uniforms were given to SC/ST students. Now, free textbooks will be extended to all students up to Class X.
Health support in hostels: For every 300 hostel students, one ANM or multipurpose health worker will be appointed.
Focus on tribal & inclusive education:
A Multilingual Education Centre will be set up in Koraput with NCERT support.
Emphasis will be placed on mother-tongue education for tribal children.
5% of teaching posts will be reserved for special educators for differently-abled children.
Reforms in institutions: SCERT will be upgraded, and the Textbook Publication Directorate will be modernised.
Senior officials including School & Mass Education Minister Nityananda Sh, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Principal Secretary Satyabrata Sahu, Finance Secretary Sanjeev Mishra, and Education Secretary Thalaini Pandit were present in the meeting.