THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, FEBRUARY 11, 2026

 “NIPUN Odisha will play a pivotal role in strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy across the state in alignment with the vision of NEP 2020, and we must work in close coordination to ensure that no child is left behind,” said Dr. N. Tirumala Naik, Secretary, School and Mass Education (S&ME) Department, while addressing a State-Level Review and Orientation Workshop in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

The one-day workshop on the NIPUN Odisha Mission was held at the Government Boys’ High School, Unit–I campus and brought together key education stakeholders from across the state. Organized by the School and Mass Education Department, the programme aimed at strengthening grassroots-level implementation of the mission and reinforcing efforts to enhance foundational literacy and numeracy among primary school students.

In his address as Chief Guest, Dr. Naik emphasized the importance of strong institutional coordination among DEOs, ADEOs and DIETs to ensure effective execution of the mission. He underscored the need to clearly define responsibilities at every level of administration so that implementation remains focused and outcome-driven. Stressing the core objective of NIPUN Odisha, he reiterated that foundational literacy and numeracy form the bedrock of a child’s academic journey and must receive the highest priority in the early years of schooling.

Ananya Das, State Project Director (SPD), OSEPA, also attended the workshop and highlighted the importance of delivering quality education through structured and sustained interventions. She called for effective implementation of the state’s reading promotion campaign, “Padhiba, Gadhiba Odisha,” and strengthening of NIPUN Vidyalayas as model institutions for foundational learning. She further stressed the optimal use of learning ladders to track student progress and the need to reinforce assessment mechanisms to ensure measurable improvements in learning outcomes.

District Education Officers (DEOs), Additional District Education Officers (ADEOs), Principals of District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs), and academic coordinators from all districts participated in the deliberations. The workshop served as a platform to review progress, address implementation challenges, and provide clarity on roles and responsibilities at the district and block levels.

The workshop featured detailed presentations by district representatives, who shared innovative practices and success stories from their respective regions. These included localized strategies to improve reading skills, teacher mentoring initiatives, and community engagement models aimed at promoting a culture of learning beyond the classroom.

Deliberations also focused on leveraging various assessment tools to enhance classroom teaching and monitor student progress. Participants discussed the effective utilization of Grade V and Grade VIII assessments, the PARAKH National Survey, State-Level Achievement Surveys, Foundational Learning Surveys, and Annual Foundational Learning Assessments. Officials emphasized that data-driven insights from these assessments should guide instructional strategies and targeted interventions to bridge learning gaps.

A special session was devoted to the Reading Promotion Campaign, with participants underscoring the urgent need to cultivate a strong reading culture in every school. Speakers highlighted that consistent reading habits not only strengthen language skills but also contribute significantly to overall cognitive development and confidence among young learners.

The role of District Project Management Units (DPMUs), district and block-level review meetings, and District NIPUN Cells was discussed extensively. Officials stressed that regular monitoring, timely feedback, and collaborative planning at these levels are essential to sustaining momentum and ensuring accountability in implementation.

Department authorities informed that similar review and orientation workshops will be organized in the coming months to further build the capacity of district-level officers and ensure uniformity in execution across the state. The initiative reflects the government’s continued commitment to achieving universal foundational literacy and numeracy as envisioned under the National Education Policy 2020.

The programme was conducted under the supervision of Amita Pattnaik, Additional Director, OSEPA, and witnessed the participation of several senior officials from the School and Mass Education Department, marking a renewed push toward transforming early-grade education in Odisha.