Dikhyaa Mohanty 
In a significant move to improve the state’s educational system, the Odisha Cabinet on Monday authorized the creation of Model Schools at the Gram Panchayat level under the recently unveiled Godabarisha Adarsha Vidyalaya (GAV) Scheme. In line with the goals of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and the state’s premier NIPUN Odisha program, the GAV scheme seeks to establish a strong network of model schools throughout the state. In order to support comprehensive child development, the emphasis will be on inclusive, egalitarian, and high-quality education, with a particular concentration on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) abilities.
The state government intends to invest ₹12,000 crore to build 2,200 model schools at the Gram Panchayat level during the first phase (2025–26 to 2027–28). An estimated ₹5 crore will be needed for each school; however, detailed project reports (DPRs) will be used to establish the exact cost.
The government claims that these schools would foster active community engagement in forming the learning ecosystem in addition to offering cutting-edge facilities and creative teaching methods. By doing this, the program hopes to lessen educational inequalities and give kids more social and intellectual authority. Named for renowned Odia author Godabarisha Mishra, the GAV program embodies Odisha’s goal of establishing an inclusive and transformational educational ecosystem that guarantees all children, regardless of background, have access to chances for development and empowerment.
