Bhubaneswar, Nov. 11: The state government plans to set up 150 primary and upper-primary schools and recruit 7,000 teachers in the 17 Maoist-affected districts of Odisha.

This decision was taken after Union home minister P. Chidambaram, during his recent visit to the state, expressed concern over the deteriorating standard of education in these districts.

The Odisha Primary Education Programme Authority (Opepa) has been asked to make an assessment of the damage caused to school buildings in these districts because of Maoist violence, said a senior official of the school and mass education department.

“With several school buildings fully or partially damaged and security forces occupying some of them, teaching has been hampered to a considerable extent. We are in the process of assessing the number of classrooms which can be used and how many more would be required,” the official said.

Efforts are on to expedite the process of distributing uniforms and bicycles (only for girl students of Class X) and uniforms in government and government-aided schools.

In another development, the state school and mass education minister, Pratap Jena, has announced that 17,000 sikhsya sahayaks (para teachers) would be appointed on a priority basis to fill up the vacant teaching posts in schools across the state.

“This year, we have appointed nearly 25,000 sikshya sahayaks and soon, 17,000 more will be employed. The dearth of teachers has dealt a heavy blow to the education scenario. The standard of primary education in the state needs to be improved and strengthened so that we can fight illiteracy and youth unemployment,” said Jena.

The school and mass education department has taken a number of steps to improve the quality of teaching in schools. Monthly tests have been made compulsory at the secondary level and emphasis will be given on the writing ability of students.

There will be proper screening through pre-tests and tests so that only eligible students are allowed to appear for the matriculation examination.