The State Government has decided to introduce Spoken English for students from Class-I in Government schools.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday directed the School and Mass Education Department to start Spoken English classes from Class-I initially at 101 Government schools in 30 districts which would be developed as ‘Centres of Excellence’.
The Chief Minister also announced a grant of Rs 25 lakh each to these schools for infrastructural development.
The government also decided to merge the schools having student strength less than 20 with nearby Government schools. Escort and transport allowance would be provided to students of the schools that would be merged.
Besides, the Government has decided to merge Block Grant schools with nearby Government schools. However, funds would be given to Block Grant schools located in five Fani-affected districts with sizeable numbers of students for development in absence of a Government school in the same locality, an official said.
The move is expected to attract students and parents towards Government schools, the official added.