Bhubaneswar, March 28: Keeping in view the maxim “Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders”, the school and mass education department is all set to introduce the concept of a “school cabinet” in all primary schools across the state from this academic session.

This programme is part of the Ama Vidyalaya or school beautification project, which is being implemented by Sarva Siksha Abhiyan in the state. The school cabinet will comprise of a body of student representatives, both boys and girls, who will be assigned various responsibilities. These “leaders” will be elected from amongst the students or nominated by their teachers and headmaster.

There are four objectives behind this initiative – to have all children in school, enhancing their leadership qualities, proper management of school by children and emphasis on girls’ education, said Aparajita Sarangi, secretary of school and mass education department. As per plans, some of the important positions in the cabinet will include the chief minister and ministers for food, health and hygiene, environment, sports and culture, education and discipline, among others.

On the other hand, for the Meena Mancha Information Board, girl leaders will be assigned the job of ensuring that all girls in the vicinity come to school. For this purpose, a 16sqft blackboard with the names of the ministers and their respective classes will be displayed in the school verandah. “With Unicef’s help, the school cabinet model has already been introduced in Koraput. We are nows trying to implement it in other schools.

“Maintenance of discipline in the school is the foremost responsibility of all the cabinet members,” said Sarangi.