Bhubaneswar, Feb. 9: The state government has decided that Class IX students should go on excursions once a year and a proposal to this effect has been approved by the Centre under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan (RMSA).

Taking advantage of the scheme, students of Capital High School here went on a trip to Barabati fort and Anshupa lake in Cuttack last week. Tomorrow, students of Unit-IV girls high schools will visit Ramchandi near Konark.

The scheme has been envisaged for nearly 5,000 government schoolchildren. Under the scheme, Rs 200 is allotted for each Class IX student.

RMAS deputy director and eminent educationist Kulamani Nath Sharma said: “The tour will give students a fair idea about the importance of various places. The outdoor activities will certainly build their character. We have asked the school authorities to take students to places of historical and geographical importance”

On being asked why they included only Class IX students, Sharma said: “We don’t want to waste the time of Class X students preparing for the board examinations.”

Bandana Mohapatra, Capital High School’s headmistress, said: “For the first time such a programme was organised. The students were very happy. Later, we organised an essay competition on the tour and what they learnt from it.”

Sources said it was a calculative move on part of the government to include Class IX students only. “Many Class X students are getting bicycles while their Class IX counterparts don’t receive any such kind of assistance. To motivate them, the government has included Class IX students,” said a source.

The ruling party members feel that move will certainly leave a lasting impression on the minds of the students. “Taking care of students from a very early stage will create a good feeling among them for the government in the longer run,” said a senior BJD leader.