Bhubaneswar: To make early education more attractive, the Odisha government will introduce the “Jadupedi” (meaning “magic box”) kit in schools across the state. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi witnessed a demonstration of these innovative learning kits on Tuesday.
The “Jadupedi” suite, developed by the National Council on Educational Research and Training (NCERT), aims to turn classroom learning into a playful, interactive experience for young children. According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the kits will be allocated to 45,000 schools, mainly targeting kindergartens and preschoolers.
The state government has designated this ambitious initiative at Rs 90 crore, aiming to promote an exciting and joyful learning environment for young learners. During a demonstration held at Lok Seva Bhavan, the Chief Minister observed the children interacting with the toolkit and expressed confidence in them as curiosity and love of learning.
“These kits will greatly attract young students. They will not only attract children to read, but also support their educational growth through playful learning methods,” said CM Majhi.
The “Jadupedi” suite is aligned with contemporary educational practices, combining elements of gaming, entertainment and hands-on activities to enhance knowledge retention and practical skills. Shalini Pandit, a specialist and secretary of Schools and Popular Education (S&ME), provides a detailed overview of the components of the toolkit and its expected impact on early childhood education.
The Chief Minister was impressed by the initiative, “These materials will encourage students to learn practical skills related to their surroundings.”
The launch of the suite is consistent with the 2020 National Education Policy (NEP), which advocates experience-based and activity-based learning in early education. The textbook will be introduced in Sishu Vatika, Class I and Class II classrooms. According to CMO sources, the preparation cost per kit is about Rs 20,000.
