Bhubaneswar, July 11 (UDN): The Odisha government will soon issue a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to streamline admissions from kindergarten (KG) to postgraduate (PG) level and remove ambiguities surrounding the implementation of its recently announced free education initiative.
Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said the SOP would provide uniform guidelines to educational institutions and ensure a smooth, transparent admission process across the state.
The move follows the state Cabinet’s decision to introduce free education from KG to PG, making Odisha the first state in the country to announce such a comprehensive education support programme.
SOP to Clarify Admission and Administrative Procedures
The Minister said the upcoming SOP would be circulated to colleges and other educational institutions to address confusion regarding admissions as well as administrative issues, including staff salaries and institutional maintenance.
“The SOP will clearly explain the decisions taken by the Cabinet on KG-to-PG admissions. It will also remove uncertainties related to salary payments and maintenance grants, ensuring uniform implementation across institutions,” he said.
Financial Aid for Aided Colleges
In a major relief for aided institutions, the Minister announced that the state government will extend financial assistance to 662-category and 488-category colleges. Under the revised arrangement, fees that were previously collected from students in these institutions will now be borne by the state government.
However, he clarified that self-financing institutions and professional course colleges will remain outside the scope of the financial assistance programme.
The initiative is expected to reduce the financial burden on students while strengthening the functioning of government-aided higher education institutions.
Stakeholder Consultations Underway
Suraj said the government is engaging with principals, teachers, students and parents to ensure the effective rollout of the KG-to-PG education scheme and to address operational challenges before implementation.
“As Odisha moves towards becoming the first state to provide free education from KG to PG, the system will evolve gradually. We are consulting all stakeholders to make the transition smooth and effective,” the Minister said.
The state government expects the SOP to provide clarity on admissions, funding and institutional administration, paving the way for the phased implementation of its ambitious education reform initiative.