Odisha to launch two new programmes to improve learning levels of students

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to improve learning levels of students in elementary schools, Odisha government decided to launch two Learning Enhancement Programmes (LEP) after the primary and upper primary schools reopen across the State.

The Odisha Primary Education Programme (OPEPA) will roll out two LEPs — Ujjwal for classes I-V and Utthan for classes VI-VIII to enhance learning outcomes and standard appropriate competences, a release by School & Mass Education department said here today.

The new programmes will hit the ground once the schools reopen after summer vacation.

These LEP programmes have the potential to substantially impact the state-wide learning outcomes and wll benefit over 40 lakh students across the state.

According to reports, the State has been preparing for these programmes for the past few months. As part of the plan, massive teacher training exercise was conducted in April. Approximately, 1.41 lakh teachers were trained during the training programme.

The authorities have designed special workbooks and distributed those to all the schools for implementation of Ujjwal and Utthan programmes.

OPEPA has also engaged a team of experts from SCERT who will conduct an impact assessment study for the programmes and submit their report and findings.

Both Ujjwal and Utthan will be launched in two phases. While phase one will run from June 18 July 31 wherein only remediation classes will operate and no regular syllabus will be taught, the phase two will run from August 1. In the second phase, the teachers will have to undertake remediation class for one period everyday at primary level and three hours every Monday at the secondary level, said the release.