How Odisha is Breaking Language Barriers in Higher Education with IGNOU's New Initiative

A Historic MoU for Inclusive Education

Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to enhance accessibility in higher education, the Higher Education department has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) on Monday.

This agreement will allow a range of academic programs from IGNOU, including undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, certificate, and vocational courses such as BBA, MBA, and travel and tourism management, to be offered in the Odia language.

As per an official announcement, the MoU was signed during a ceremony attended by Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who described this initiative as a groundbreaking development in Odisha’s educational framework.

Minister Suryabanshi emphasized, "This MoU eliminates language as a barrier to education. Students can now pursue various courses in their native language, which is a step towards inclusive learning."

He further noted that studying in one's mother tongue can foster creativity, lower dropout rates, and significantly improve the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education.

The minister added, "This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which prioritizes education in the mother tongue, ensuring 'Education for All' and 'Higher Education for All.'"

Students from numerous colleges and universities across Odisha, from Balasore to Malkangiri, participated in the event virtually, expressing their enthusiasm for this initiative and its potential benefits for many learners.

The event also saw the presence of Higher Education Commissioner and Principal Secretary Arvind Agrawal, Independent Secretary Ramakant Nayak, IGNOU VC Uma Kanjilal, and Registrar Alok Chaubey, among others.