DIRECTOR'S DESK

Education is the most important tool for social, economic and political transformation and a key instrument for building an equitable society. A well-educated population, equipped with the relevant knowledge, attitudes and skills are essential for economic and social development in the twenty-first century. Education also acts as an integrative force in society, imparting values that foster social cohesion and national identity.

Achieving Synergy between the Schemes

Given the shift in the approach to development of school education from input-based to outcome based central sector interventions as envisaged in the document entitled, India: Three-Year Action Agenda, 2017/18 to 2019/20 (NITI Aayog, 2017), a 'paradigm shift' is envisaged in the approach to central sector spending on school education. A flagship programme in school education has been conceptualized (designed and implemented jointly by the State and Central Governments) with the overall developmental goal of raising the performance of the school education sector following a strategy of supporting interventions for school effectiveness and sustainable institutional capacity. The shift in the focus is from project objectives to improving systems level performance and schooling outcomes. The emphasis of the combined Scheme would be to incentivize States towards improving quality of education.

Integrated implementing society (OSEPA)

For implementing different programmes and schemes related with school education scope of Odisha Primary Education Programme Authority (OPEPA) existing implementing society for SSA, upgraded through the amalgamation with Odisha Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (OMSM), the implementing society for RMSA. The area of operation of the Authority shall be the whole State of Odisha. OSEPA is responsible for implementing the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), an integral central sponsored scheme for the school education i.e. pre-primary to higher secondary (+2) level of education.

The Odisha School Education Programme Authority shall act as an autonomous and independent body for implementation of the Odisha School Education Programmes (Class - I to XII) as outlined by the Government of Odisha or Government of India. The activities of the authority will be concentrated in all districts of the whole State of Odisha. The Authority has been established to function as a social mission for bringing about a fundamental change in the school education system and through it, in the overall socio-cultural situation.