Summary
The school in Hinjili was part of the Odisha government’s High School Transformation programme
133 high schools in Ganjam district have been transformed in the first phase of the initiative in August
Students of Brundaban Government High School in Ganjam, Odisha, had a surprise ‘classmate’. Seated with the Class X pupils was none other Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik.
Patnaik visited the school in Hinjili, his Assembly constituency, to inspect the transformation that has taken place under the 5T initiative of the government and spend time with the students. The visit was part of the chief minister’s one-day tour of Ganjam to distribute smart health cards under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY).
For Arpita Rani Padhy, a Class X student of Brundaban Government High School, it was a day to remember. “We were really happy when the chief minister sat with us and enquired about how we felt after the transformation of the 80-year-old school under the 5T initiative,” Arpita said.
Jasawant Jani, a student of Class X, gifts a portrait of Naveen Patnaik to the Odisha chief minister. Source: Twitter
“Initially we felt nervous when the chief minister entered the classroom. We thought he would sit on the teacher's chair and ask questions. But we were very surprised when he sat on the bench meant for students,” said Jasawant Jani, another student.
Jani, a student of Class X, presented a portrait of Patnaik to the chief minister.
The school is one of the transformed high schools that the chief minister had earlier inaugurated during the first phase of the High School Transformation programme.
As many 133 high schools in the district have been transformed in the first phase in August. In the second phase, the government has decided to develop the infrastructure of another 233 high schools under the initiative.
The teachers were proud to have a special visitor. “We have decided to preserve the bench where the chief minister sat along with the students in memory of his visit,” said Santilata Rana, the headmistress of Brundaban Government High School.
Patnaik also inspected the modern laboratory, e-library, and other state-of-the-art facilities developed under the school transformation programme. Chief minister Patnaik also interacted with students present in the e-library.
“We felt very proud as the chief minister sat with us,” said Ankita Panda, a Class X student who was at the e-library at that time.
Patnaik also wrote a message in the school visitors' book.
Last updated on 13 Dec 2021
