Cuttack’s Ranihat High School, a significant landmark in the history of Odisha, is celebrating its centenary today. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that the school will be granted the status of a Heritage School.
The Chief Minister made this announcement during the centenary celebrations held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack, where he served as the chief guest. On this occasion, he declared that the school would receive Rs 4 crore for development related to its new heritage status, in addition to another Rs 2 crore from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for its upgradation.
During his speech, the Chief Minister expressed optimism that when Special Odisha completes its 100 years in 2036, Ranihat High School will represent one of the success stories of that century. He emphasized that the school will become a focal point of excellence and serve as a guiding example for future generations.
Completing a century is indeed a significant milestone for any institution. The century-long history of Ranihat High School is both glorious and robust. The Chief Minister highlighted that this school has transformed into more than just an educational institution; it has become a unique identity for Cuttack city, thanks to the unwavering dedication from its students, teachers, and staff over the years.
He noted that many eminent personalities from Cuttack, including former MP Late Jayanti Patnaik, former Minister Late Sameer De, and Late Damodar Raut, have graduated from this school and have brought honour to the state and the nation in their respective fields. Furthermore, notable alumni such as Late Bansidhar Panda, founder of IMFA, and Shri Sarat Kumar Sahu, founder of Ruchi Masala, have consistently inspired the current student body with their achievements.
Originally started with three open-roofed houses left by the British and later developed by Shri Banchanidhi Satapathi, Ranihat High School is now one of the largest schools in Odisha. The Chief Minister praised the plan to celebrate this centenary year through various activities aimed at promoting educational development for both students and society.
The government is dedicated to providing excellent educational opportunities, with plans to renovate the infrastructure of all government schools across the state, ensuring that students receive modern educational facilities and that the quality of education improves.
Since the new government came to power, several programs and schemes have been launched to strengthen the education system. To address the shortage of teachers, approximately 19,000 new teachers have been appointed in the last seven months, covering both primary and high school levels. The Chief Minister encouraged school teachers to utilize the various trainings organized by the government on the new education policy being implemented in the state and to apply these methods in their classrooms to engage students more effectively.
To enhance the primary education system, a Godavarish Mishra Adarsh Primary School will be established in every panchayat throughout the state. These schools will serve as foundational institutions for primary education and act as feeder schools for high schools, allowing students to progress seamlessly.
Additionally, the PM Shri Yojana will be implemented in the state, converting 800 schools into centers of excellence.
Guest of honour, Minister for Works, Excise and Law Prithviraj Harichandan, recognized that today marks the celebration of 100 years for one of the oldest schools in Odisha, due to the unwavering dedication from students, teachers, staff, alumni, and parents. He mentioned that the government is also taking steps to reduce dropout rates among students through initiatives like the Saheed Madho Singh Hata Kharcha program.
