Union Education Minister Urges Gujarat to Expand Odia Medium Schools for Migrant Community

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has written to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel advocating for expanded institutional support for Odia language education in the state. The appeal comes in response to concerns raised by the Surat Odia Samaj regarding educational facilities for the region's 1.6 lakh Odia-speaking residents.

Pradhan's proposals include establishing additional Odia medium schools, introducing Odia as an optional subject in colleges and universities, and creating dedicated Odia language departments. He emphasized that such measures would align with the National Education Policy 2020, which prioritizes mother tongue education and strengthens multilingual frameworks.

The minister also recommended launching a Teacher Eligibility Test for Odia language to address teacher shortages in government schools and adopting NCERT-based curricula to ensure academic continuity for students transitioning between states. These initiatives aim to support migrant Odia families while recognizing their significant contributions to Gujarat's industrial and social development.