Bhubaneswar: CM Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday virtually laid the foundation stones for the second phase of Godabarish Mishra Model Primary School Scheme, under which 204 institutions would be built across all 30 districts.During the stone-laying programme in Khurda district’s Kumarbasta, he announced that the schools would be developed on the lines of the historic Satyabadi Bakul Bana School, established by Panchasakhas.With the second phase of foundation stone laying, construction work has now commenced for 322 schools under the scheme. The state govt plans to establish 2,200 Godabarish Mishra model primary schools in different phases with an investment of Rs 12,000 crore.Majhi said primary education forms the foundation of a child’s learning journey, and strengthening it is crucial for building a brighter future. The new schools would provide a conducive learning environment and use modern educational technologies to ensure quality education for students, he added.Majhi further said education today must go beyond textbooks and focus on developing employability, problem-solving abilities and creativity among children. He expressed confidence that the Godabarish Mishra model primary school initiative would play a transformative role in achieving these goals.Highlighting the govt’s focus on education, he referred to initiatives such as the implementation of the National Education Policy-2020, PM SHRI schools, Sishu Vatika, Heritage School projects, Shaheed Madho Singh Haath Kharcha Scheme for tribal students and CM’s Nutrition Scheme, providing mid-day meals to students from Class I to X.The CM said the govt has recruited 26,615 teaching and non-teaching staff in the last two years and plans to appoint 45,000 more over the next three years. Efforts such as the Child Tracking Survey and Aasa School Jiba Abhiyan are also helping bring out-of-school children back into classrooms, he added.