The draft National Education Policy (NEP) 2019 introduced by Union Human Resources Development Ministry was welcomed by Odisha Abhibhabak Mahasangh on Saturday.

State Mahasangh Chairman Basudev Bhatt said certain reforms suggested in the policy, including merger of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education and vocational training to students at high school level, will improve the quality of education.

"Merger of secondary and higher secondary education in which students will appear exams on semester basis from Class IX to XII will allow them to be in touch with the syllabus and prepare well for the exams," he said.

A large number of reforms have been suggested in the draft policy and to find out whether these reforms will work for Odisha a state-level workshop on the draft NEP 2019 will be organised for two days on June 18 and 19 on Buddha Mandir premises here and have requested educationists, parents and social activists to participate in it to give their valuable suggestions. The Ministry has sought public views on the draft policy by June 30

Meanwhile, sources said Union Human Resources Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has also called a meeting with education ministers of different states on June 22 to deliberate on the recommendations suggested in the draft policy. After this meeting the ministry will examine all the suggestions to prepare a final draft, sources added.

Regarding Odisha's participation in the meeting, School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Das said, "The State Government is yet to receive the letter from the HRD Ministry. We will decide on it once we get the letter."