Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, announced on Saturday that the state government intends to fill 45,000 vacant teaching positions within the next three years.
Speaking at the Secondary Board High School in Cuttack in celebration of National Teachers’ Day, Majhi encouraged students to refrain from spending excessive time on social media and to prioritize their studies.
He emphasized that education transcends mere knowledge transfer, describing it as a vital process for human development.
In honor of former president Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s birth anniversary, the chief minister highlighted the significance of the ‘Guru-Shishya’ tradition, which is integral to Indian culture.
Majhi noted the influential role of teachers throughout history, mentioning figures such as Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, and Swami Vivekananda.
He also referenced the late APJ Abdul Kalam, renowned as the ‘Missile Man,’ who proudly identified himself as a teacher, even while holding the highest office in India.
During his engagement with the students, Majhi, who has a background in teaching, advised them to stay focused on their education and minimize distractions.
He stated, “Please do not waste too much time on social media, and instead focus on building careers.” He urged students to develop strong academic skills, contributing to their own growth and that of the nation, which he identified as the core objective of the education system.
Majhi outlined his government’s commitment to comprehensive educational reforms, highlighting that Odisha is the first state in India to implement a free education scheme from kindergarten to postgraduate levels.
Additionally, he mentioned that 2,200 state-of-the-art ‘Godavarish Mishra Adarsh Pratamika Vidyalayas’ are being constructed at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore, along with the establishment of 45,000 nursery schools for preschool children.
The chief minister reaffirmed the government’s pledge to provide mid-day meals and textbooks for students in classes 9 and 10, as well as the ‘Shahid Madho Singh Hath Kharcha Yojana’ aimed at reducing dropout rates among tribal children.
On this occasion, the CM also recognized and honored several teachers.
