Bhubaneswar: The issue of changing school colors has sparked allegations and counter-allegations. Responding to the controversy, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond stated, “We are not changing school colors; rather, we are removing the BJD party colors.”
The previous government had painted schools in party colors. However, the new color scheme will be appropriate for educational institutions and enhance the aesthetic appeal of schools, making them more attractive. The minister emphasized that this is not a political move, but rather a step to remove party colors applied by the previous administration.
Notably, based on a directive from the School and Mass Education Department, OSEPA (Odisha School Education Programme Authority) has instructed all district collectors to change the school colors. The earlier color scheme is to be replaced with saffron (gerua). The directive also mentions that if the school building is structurally sound, the color change will occur during renovation or repairs. The exterior walls will be painted orange (kamala), while borders will be painted blue (nali).