Odisha plans merger of secondary and higher secondary boards

The Odisha government is planning a major overhaul of its school education system by proposing to merge the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) and the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) into a single administrative board. Following a directive from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the School and Mass Education Department is currently drafting legislation to facilitate this merger, which would manage examinations for both Class 10 and Class 12, similar to the CBSE model.

In addition to the administrative restructuring, the state intends to revamp the Class X curriculum and integrate Plus Two levels into a unified framework. Key initiatives include introducing Plus Two courses through open schools to provide free education for students up to age 18 and making Commerce and Science subjects available in the Odia language.

To support students preparing for competitive exams and reduce financial burdens, the government has allocated Rs 10 crore to the CHSE to provide free digital learning resources. While the administrative framework will change, officials stated that the existing examination patterns and academic structures are expected to remain largely unchanged during the transition.