Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has unveiled an ambitious plan to recruit 45,000 primary school teachers over the next three years, while also extending the free textbook scheme to all Class 9 and 10 students. The announcement was made after a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on August 21, 2025.

Massive Recruitment Drive in Education

To strengthen primary education in line with the National Education Policy (NEP), the government will recruit 15,000 teachers annually. Currently, Odisha has 1,60,319 sanctioned teaching posts across 45,292 primary schools.

As per official data, the state needs 39,366 additional teachers, while 5,067 posts are expected to fall vacant by December 2025. Together, this creates a demand for 44,433 teachers, which the government aims to fill through phased recruitment.

Chief Minister Majhi highlighted that the initiative is crucial for achieving the vision of a prosperous Odisha by 2036, with strong foundational education.

Free Textbooks Extended to Higher Classes

In a major step toward inclusivity, the state has decided to provide free textbooks to all Class 9 and 10 students. Earlier, this facility was restricted to Classes 1–8 and SC/ST students in Classes 9 and 10.

Single Education Board on the Horizon

The government also announced plans to merge the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) and the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE). The move aims to streamline the examination system and create a single state education board.

Focus on Student Health and Tribal Education

One Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) will be appointed for every 300 hostel students to ensure better health monitoring.

A Multilingual Education Centre will be established in Koraput to promote learning in local dialects, making education more accessible for tribal children.

Alignment with National Standards

The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) will be revamped on the model of NCERT, ensuring Odisha’s academic framework is in sync with national benchmarks.

With these measures—teacher recruitment, free textbooks, health monitoring, and examination reforms—the Odisha government has signalled a comprehensive overhaul of the school education system, aimed at quality, inclusivity, and holistic student development.

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