Berhampur: Around 8,000 children aged under five years were enrolled in Sishu Vatika (pre-primary) classes across 2,885 primary and upper primary schools in Ganjam district on Wednesday.
The mass enrolment programme, which will continue until April 5, was launched as part of Odia Pakhya celebrations of the state govt. The district administration, in collaboration with Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, organised the ‘Prabesh Utsav‘ and ‘Khadi Chhuan’ (learning of alphabet) ceremonies in various schools.
Revenue divisional commissioner (south) Roopa Roshan Sahoo inaugurated the Khadi Chhuan programme at Madhuvidya Primary School and Sanakhemundi Nodal School, while Ganjam collector Dibya Jyoti Parida attended the ceremony at Puti Gopalpur Primary School in Chhatrapur. MLAs of Chikiti, Bhanjangar and Sorada also participated in Prabesh Utsav at different schools.
Each newly enrolled student received a learning kit containing a bag, slate, chalk and pictorial fundamental book. The initiative, launched under New Education Policy (NEP)-2020, aims to enhance early childhood education.
“It’s a joyous moment for parents. Pre-primary schooling will help strengthen childhood learning,” said Sanjukta Sahu, a parent from Berhampur.
Saroj Mohan Pala, district tribal coordinator of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, said they expect to enrol around 40,000 children. To create awareness, decorated chariots have been deployed across all 22 blocks in the district, and anganwadi workers are actively reaching out to parents.