Launched in April 2025, the Sishu Vatika initiative in Odisha’s government schools is becoming a game-changer in advancing the state’s Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) goals, under the NIPUN Bharat Mission. Moving beyond traditional models, the programme fosters strong foundations for five-year-olds, nurturing curiosity, creativity and foundational skills through joyful, inclusive and developmentally appropriate experiences.

Sishu Vatika is rooted in joyful learning, with child-friendly spaces designed to stimulate imagination and engagement. In Odisha, teachers are being empowered through targeted training and community involvement to create a shared sense of ownership towards enhancing the student learning outcomes. From colourful classrooms to interactive storytelling corners, this initiative is not just preparing children for school; it is preparing them for life. Aimed at strengthening learning for five-year-olds, Sishu Vatika stands as a powerful example of how Odisha is setting the pace in foundational learning and inspiring models for replication nationwide.     

Inception of Sishu Vatika

Odisha is committed to inclusive, quality education and it recognises that the early years are foundational, shaping a child’s cognitive, emotional and social development, which directly impacts future learning. Data and field observations have revealed that many children enter Grade 1 without the necessary readiness, leading to early learning gaps that persist throughout their academic journey. To address this, Sishu Vatika was envisioned as a joyful, play-based space within government schools, providing age-appropriate care and foundational skill-building before formal schooling. This initiative not only supports literacy and numeracy but also nurtures curiosity, creativity and socio-emotional skills, ensuring every child starts their learning journey equipped for success.

This approach not only prepares children academically but also nurtures their confidence, setting them up to thrive in school and beyond. Early childhood education is especially crucial in Odisha’s diverse socio-economic landscape, where many first-generation learners need structured support to develop literacy, numeracy and socio-emotional skills. This initiative aims to ensure that every child begins their learning journey with the right tools, environment and support. 

More than a school-readiness programme, it represents a policy-level commitment to integrated early learning, fostering convergence between Early Childhood Education and primary education. In most cases, it supports children from marginalised communities and first-generation learners, aiming to reduce learning gaps, improve retention and promote equitable outcomes. Through Sishu Vatika, Odisha reaffirms its commitment to the national goal of foundational learning for all, grounded in equity, inclusion and child-centred pedagogy.                                                                                                                

Early Success Indicators of Sishu Vatika

The Sishu Vatika programme was introduced through a large-scale, state-wide campaign, led by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, under the banners of Pravesh Utsav and Khadi Chuan—a week-long celebration of school readiness and enrolment. To foster meaningful community participation, invitation cards bearing the Chief Minister’s message were distributed to parents of eligible Sishu Vatika and Grade 1 children, encouraging them to visit the nearby schools and enrol their children. This community-focused campaign sparked early success by raising awareness among parents and communities about the crucial role of foundational learning in a child’s education.

While enrollment is still ongoing and is expected to conclude by the end of August 2025, preliminary observations from a sample-based situational study, conducted across six districts in 245 schools, suggest a significant increase in parental engagement and early childhood enrollment numbers. Furthermore, the Child Tracking Survey, conducted between April to May 2025,  aims to identify and map out-of-school children across communities, enabling targeted interventions. 

The Road Ahead

In the short term, Odisha is focused on operationalising Sishu Vatikas within existing school campuses by optimally utilising available infrastructure. This includes providing age-appropriate learning materials, play equipment and creating safe, child-friendly environments. Dedicated spaces within primary schools have been identified and adapted to accommodate pre-school learners, with financial support from the Samagra Shiksha framework.

On the staffing front, the state is streamlining teaching personnel dedicated to early childhood education. At the same time, capacity-building programmes are being conducted through District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) and Directorate of Teacher Education and State Council of Educational Research and Training (TE&SCERT)-led modules to equip teachers with the necessary skills. Existing primary school teachers are also receiving training to facilitate smooth classroom transactions in the multi-grade context of Odisha accommodating Sishu Vatika grade. Odisha is addressing multigrade teaching challenges by preparing integrated workbooks aligned to scaffolded grade-level learning outcomes. 

In the long run, Odisha aims to expand safe, child-friendly spaces and enrich teaching-learning materials, including activity modules, integrated monthly academic plans and audio-visual aids, to further improve learning outcomes. The state also aims to integrate Sishu Vatika more holistically within the overall school education system, through policy convergence, strengthened monitoring mechanisms and ongoing professional development of educators. Monitoring frameworks are being introduced, including child-wise tracking and FLN assessment tools, to measure and support learning progress effectively. 

Through this phased approach, Odisha is building a scalable, sustainable foundation for early learning. These strategic steps, aligned with national priorities, position Sishu Vatika as a critical driver for universal foundational learning outcomes.

Launched in April 2025, the Sishu Vatika initiative in Odisha’s government schools is becoming a game-changer in advancing the state’s Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) goals, under the NIPUN Bharat Mission. Moving beyond traditional models, the programme fosters strong foundations for five-year-olds, nurturing curiosity, creativity and foundational skills through joyful, inclusive and developmentally appropriate experiences.

Sishu Vatika is rooted in joyful learning, with child-friendly spaces designed to stimulate imagination and engagement. In Odisha, teachers are being empowered through targeted training and community involvement to create a shared sense of ownership towards enhancing the student learning outcomes. From colourful classrooms to interactive storytelling corners, this initiative is not just preparing children for school; it is preparing them for life. Aimed at strengthening learning for five-year-olds, Sishu Vatika stands as a powerful example of how Odisha is setting the pace in foundational learning and inspiring models for replication nationwide.     

Inception of Sishu Vatika

Odisha is committed to inclusive, quality education and it recognises that the early years are foundational, shaping a child’s cognitive, emotional and social development, which directly impacts future learning. Data and field observations have revealed that many children enter Grade 1 without the necessary readiness, leading to early learning gaps that persist throughout their academic journey. To address this, Sishu Vatika was envisioned as a joyful, play-based space within government schools, providing age-appropriate care and foundational skill-building before formal schooling. This initiative not only supports literacy and numeracy but also nurtures curiosity, creativity and socio-emotional skills, ensuring every child starts their learning journey equipped for success.

This approach not only prepares children academically but also nurtures their confidence, setting them up to thrive in school and beyond. Early childhood education is especially crucial in Odisha’s diverse socio-economic landscape, where many first-generation learners need structured support to develop literacy, numeracy and socio-emotional skills. This initiative, aims to ensure that every child begins their learning journey with the right tools, environment and support. 

More than a school-readiness programme, it represents a policy-level commitment to integrated early learning, fostering convergence between Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and primary education. In most cases, it supports children from marginalised communities and first-generation learners, aiming to reduce learning gaps, improve retention and promote equitable outcomes, reaffirming Odisha’s commitment to foundational education for all. Through Sishu Vatika, Odisha reaffirms its commitment to the national goal of foundational learning for all, grounded in equity, inclusion and child-centred pedagogy.                                                                                                                

Early Success Indicators of Sishu Vatika

The Sishu Vatika programme was introduced through a large-scale, state-wide campaign, led by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi, under the banners of Pravesh Utsav and Khadi Chua—a week-long celebration of school readiness and enrolment. To foster meaningful community participation, invitation cards bearing the Chief Minister’s message were distributed to parents of eligible Sishu Vatika and Grade 1 children, encouraging them to visit the nearby schools and enrol their children. This community-focused campaign sparked early success by raising awareness among parents and communities about the crucial role of foundational learning in a child’s education.

While enrollment is still ongoing and is expected to conclude by the end of August 2025, preliminary observations from a sample-based situational study, conducted across six districts in 245 schools, suggest a significant increase in parental engagement and early childhood enrollment numbers. Furthermore, the Child Tracking Survey, conducted between April to May 2025,  is helping to identify and map out-of-school children across communities, enabling targeted interventions. 

The Road Ahead

In the short term, Odisha is focused on operationalising Sishu Vatikas within existing school campuses by optimally utilising available infrastructure. This includes providing age-appropriate learning materials, play equipment and creating safe, child-friendly environments. Dedicated spaces within primary schools have been identified and adapted to accommodate pre-school learners, with financial support from the Samagra Shiksha framework.

On the staffing front, the state is streamlining teaching personnel dedicated to early childhood education. The Project Approval Board (PAB) has endorsed provisions for Sishu Vatika helpers in PM Shri Schools . At the same time, capacity-building programmes are being conducted through District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) and State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT)-led modules to equip teachers with the necessary skills. Existing primary school teachers are also receiving training to facilitate smooth transitions from preschool to Grade 1. Additionally, the government plans to deploy a helper in each Sishu Vatika to support classroom activities and enhance engagement.

Odisha is addressing multigrade teaching challenges by preparing integrated workbooks tailored to diverse learner needs within one classroom. As a longer-term goal, the state aims to expand safe, child-friendly spaces and enrich teaching-learning materials, including ready-made lesson plans and audio-visual aids, to further improve learning outcomes.

In the long run, Odisha aims to integrate Sishu Vatika more holistically within the overall school education system, through policy convergence, strengthened monitoring mechanisms and ongoing professional development of educators. Monitoring frameworks are being introduced, including child-wise tracking and FLN assessment tools, to measure and support learning progress effectively. 

Through this phased approach, Odisha is building a scalable, sustainable foundation for early learning. These strategic steps, aligned with national priorities, position Sishu Vatika as a critical driver for universal foundational learning outcomes.