Education Reforms / Odisha CM approves 15 education reforms; part-time teachers’ pay raised to Rs16,000

Bhubaneswar, Nov 13: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday approved the implementation of 15 recommendations made by a high-level committee headed by Ashok Kumar Tripathy, officials said.

The decisions were taken during a meeting of the committee constituted to examine matters relating to educational institutions across the State. The approved measures cover grant-in-aid schools, teachers’ service conditions, salary-related issues, Sanskrit institutions, vocational education and Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas.

School and teacher reforms

Among the key decisions, the State government has approved the inclusion of 194 high schools, which were left out of the 2013 government block grant scheme, under the grant-in-aid system.

The monthly remuneration of part-time art, music and sports teachers in government schools will be enhanced from Rs10,000 to Rs16,000.

The government has also decided to release pending salary dues of TGT and PET teachers of government secondary schools who completed six years of service and were regularised in 2022.

Regular promotions for primary school teachers will be undertaken, while Sikshya Sahayaks appointed between 2016 and 2018 will be regularised.

Focus on Sanskrit and vocational education

The State government has approved regular teacher appointments in Prathama and Madhyama Sanskrit Tols.

Teachers serving as Classical Teachers in government schools will be included in the eligibility framework of Trained Graduate (TG) teachers. Teacher deployment will also be undertaken in fully aided Madhyama Sanskrit Tols.

In another measure, vocational instructors will receive salary payments on a regular basis, and Odisha Junior Teachers (Schematic) will be provided opportunities to acquire higher qualifications.

Adarsha Vidyalaya initiatives

The government has decided to complete and operationalise all residential hostels in Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas.

Measures will also be taken to ensure timely payment of salaries to all employees working in these schools. Children of Adarsha Vidyalaya employees will be allowed to study in the institutions.

Further, the previous service period and pay protection of TGT teachers appointed in Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas will be safeguarded.

The government has also approved the establishment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics laboratories in Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas.
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Pension issue discussed

The meeting also discussed the pension demand of block grant employees. However, as the matter is currently under active consideration before the High Court, it was decided that further action would be taken after the court's order is received.