Odisha: Climate change, Covid find place in syllabus

BHUBANESWAR: School and mass education minister Samir Ranjan Dash has said children will be taught about climate change and Covid management from the 2023-24 academic session.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had last year announced that these subjects would be included in school curriculum.
“The government has decided to include climate change and Covid management as chapters in Classes IX and X. Textbooks have already been distributed this year and classes started. Children will be taught about these subjects from next year,” said Dash.
The minister added that climate change has become a global threat and everyone, including children, should know how to check it and bring necessary changes in lifestyle to reduce its impact. “Similarly, Covid-19 has taught us how to deal and survive a pandemic. It is very important for children to learn about various aspects of Covid management so that they remain prepared for any such development in future,” he added.
The state government had cut syllabus by 30% in the past two academic sessions considering the Covid-induced challenges in the education sector.
From this year, children will study with 100% curriculum. Besides, the government has also been making provision to teach the chapters, which students left during the Covid period, and bridge their learning gaps, created due to prolonged closure of physical classes.