BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday and made a slew of announcements for improvement of school education in the State on the occasion of Children’s Day.In his maiden address to around 6.6 lakh students of nearly 62,000 schools through television, Naveen launched ‘Mo School’ campaign to connect children to their schools. The initiative, he said, will promote and facilitate volunteerism to give back to alma mater.
Appealing to celebrities and eminent personalities to mentor their respective schools and contribute funds for developing educational institutions, the CM said the State Government will contribute double the amount for which a corpus fund of `100 crore has been constituted.“Many want to donate something like providing scholarships, putting up laboratory and library, promoting sports and teaching the students in schools. The new initiative will make children active participants in the development journey of their alma mater and be part of the change they want in their schools,” he said.
In his 15-minute ‘Mana ra Katha’, Naveen said he wants children of the State to dream big, develop scientific temperament, work hard to achieve goals and excel in various fields.The CM also announced cash awards and scholarships to encourage best performing schools and students. Ten students from each block will get Odia language scholarship for scoring highest marks in Odia while 40,000 meritorious students will get Chief Minister’s Merit Scholarship and receive a cash award of `5,000 each for excelling in Class X board examinations, he declared.
Since the contribution of parents and teachers for the success of children is unequivocal, the State Government has also decided to felicitate the parents and teachers of highest scoring Class X students. Best three schools of every block will also get a cash award of `1 lakh each and it will be distributed among teachers, Naveen announced.
While Odisha has reached a certain level in most indicators, the CM said, education will take the State to next level of development. “The greatest transformation in any civilisation has come with education. Progress of nations has shown that nurturing children and empowering them through education has played a crucial role in taking them to next level,” he observed.
The Chief Minister turned nostalgic while advising students to focus on their goals and bring laurels for their motherland. Though there is a saying that children constitute one third of population, they all are future of the nation, he said.
“A student has three important duties to exercise. He/she has to excel in study to fulfil dreams, take care of parents and contribute to the motherland. It gives immense pleasure to be instrumental in the growth of own State and country,” the CM added.
Children’s Day Gift
‘Mo School’ campaign to connect children to their schools and childhood memories
State to provide double the amount of what any school alumni contributes for which a corpus fund of D100 crore constituted
Ten students from each block to get Odia language scholarship for scoring highest marks in Odia
Chief Minister’s Merit Scholarship for 40,000 meritorious students every year and cash award of D5,000 each for excelling in Class X board examinations
100 students from each block and municipal corporation, 50 from each municipality and 20 from each NAC to get CM’s Merit Scholarship
Parents and teachers of highest scoring Class X students to be felicitated every year