Samir Ranjan Dash hails from a blueblood family. A descendant of erstwhile great Communist patriarch Mohan Dash's family, he took to public life after having relinquished many lucrative careers lying ahead of him. As a student leader, he was elected vice-president of the Nimapara College Students’ Union in 1982 and president in 1983. Subsequently, he became general secretary and then president of All India Students’ Federation, Orissa. He was also president of MS Law College Students’ Union, Cuttack in 1997. He gathered political experience at the grassroots level when he became Sarpanch, Bhiligram, Nimapara block in 1992 and a Puri Zilla Parishad Member from 1997 to 2002 and 2002-2007. He opened his innings to the State Assembly from the Nimapara constituency in 2006 and was subsequently elected in 2009, 2014 and 2019. Currently, he is the Minister for School & Mass Education. The distinguishing characteristics of Dash's are that he is a workaholic Minister whose doors are open to public round the clock at his residence. He is also active at the cultural front and devotes time meaningfully for the celebration of Ratha Yatra at Puri every year and also spends time profitably in cultural and literary soirees. He has many plans on his agenda towards galvanising and rejuvenating the moribund school and mass educational system in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. In an interview to The Pioneer, Dash spoke to Sugyan Choudhury on his department’s preparedness to effectively deal with the emerging scenario of education in the State.

With the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic, the entire educational system has suffered from inertia and withdrawal. What are your plans to galvanise it?

The Covid-19 pandemic was unprecedented. To counter its impact, we have ensured 100% distribution of textbooks to all students. All the textbooks have been converted to energising ones providing QR codes to each chapter and upload to OSEPA websites as well as DIKSHA portal. Apart from this, Madhu APP, a syllabi-based e-learning app in Odia has been launched by the Chief Minister on December 3, 2019. It facilitates self-learning and online self-assessment of learning achievement. The Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya Sangathan has also introduced online education system with the provision of real-time assessment system.

Do you think the Government infrastructure is sound enough for imparting online teaching?

We have explored all possible means to reach out to the students and impart quality education. Telecast of video classes is continuing in Doordarshan, Odia channel for Class-X students from April 20 for two hours a day -- from 11 am to 12 noon and from 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm -- from Monday to Friday. The digital content developed through different sources from Class-I to X has ben linked with the QR code in DIKSHA portal. Odisha DIKSHA secured 4th rank in content play in the country during the lockdown. E-class for students through Microsoft teams has been introduced in 300 Government schools -- 10 schools per district on a pilot basis. Odisha SikshaSanjog, a digital learning programme through WhatsApp group has been initiated to engage students in teaching-learning activity. Total 2,90,898 students of secondary schools and 8,24,089 students of elementary schools are participating in the Odisha SikshaSanjog programme. More than 400 teacher educators of DIETs are participating in e-learning through various digital platforms.

The undeveloped districts are lagging behind in term of technical connectivity in such a case. How are the students of these districts going to be imparted teaching in a similar platform with their counterparts of the developed districts?

Without reiterating, I must say we are using allotted slots in Doordarshan, digitally developed content linked with QR code in DIKSHA portal, E-class through Microsoft teams to cover maximum number of students. The District Education Officers have been, accordingly, instructed to monitor and ensure our reach to each student.

Our teachers and students are not techno-savvy; how do you think to train them for receiving and imparting online teaching?

Necessity is the mother of invention. Teachers imparting online teaching are being ably assisted by computer programmes; and students are supplied with links to access the programmes.

How can your department prepare itself to receive more budgetary allocation from the Union Government to make our system more invigorating?

In the changing scenario, we have put forth our demands in a pragmatic manner. The Union Government after weighing the pros and cons of the proposals will approve it in PAB.

What are the plans on your agenda to make school and mass education more vibrant?

We have developed the infrastructure by opening 214 Odisha Adarsha Vidyalays upgrading 30 OAVS to higher secondary levels, operating 55 new girls’ hostels in OAVs, 17 residential hostels, 182 KGBVS hostels. We have recruited 1,345 secondary and 492 OAV teachers to create a favourable pupil-teacher ratio. We have strengthened the system by ensuring online teacher transfer policy and rationalisation of schools. The Mo Sarkar programme under 5T initiative of our Government redresses the grievances of students and parents in a transparent and time-bound manner.

What’s your considered opinion to bridge the regional imbalances in the State’s educational scenario?

So far as the education scenario of the State is concerned, there is no question of regional imbalances. Our Government under the stewardship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has made a vow to curb the regional imbalances; and we are trying our best to pull all the students to the mainstream of learning process. The pattern of teaching-learning process in the farthest corner of our State is at par with the best in the capital. Our motto is loud and clear: “Every single student of our State should get the quality education in best possible manner.”