IGNOU to offer one-year DECE programme in Odia language; check who can enroll

The Odia version of textbooks and course materials for the Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education (DECE), offered by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), was released in Bhubaneswar on Monday. The ceremony at Lok Seva Bhawan was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj and IGNOU Vice Chancellor Prof. Uma Kanjilal.

The DECE is a one-year diploma course, open to students after completion of Class 12, with a primary focus on early childhood education, child health and nutrition. The Higher Education Department of Odisha had earlier signed an MoU with IGNOU on June 9 this year to introduce several courses in Odia.

Deputy CM Highlights Mother Tongue Education

Sharing her views on social media, Parida posted, "Today, Indira Gandhi National Open University (@OfficialIGNOU) launched the textbook in Odia for the Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education program. This will help Odia students to receive education in their mother tongue. Our government has also given priority to mother tongue and multilingual education in the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 prepared under the guidance of the esteemed Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji. The program organized at Lok Seva Bhawan was also attended by Higher Education Minister Shri @suryabanshibjp and IGNOU Vice Chancellor Prof. Smt. Uma Kanjilal. #IGNOU #Odia #NEP"

ଆଜି ଇନ୍ଦିରା ଗାନ୍ଧି ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରୀୟ ମୁକ୍ତ ବିଶ୍ଵବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟ ( @OfficialIGNOU) ତରଫରୁ ପ୍ରାରମ୍ଭିକ ଶୈଶବ ଯତ୍ନ ଓ ଶିକ୍ଷା କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମ (Early Childhood Care and Education program)ରେ ଡିପ୍ଲୋମା ପାଇଁ ଓଡ଼ିଆରେ ପାଠ୍ୟ ପୁସ୍ତକର ଶୁଭାରମ୍ଭ କରାଯାଇଛି। ଏହା ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଛାତ୍ରଛାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କୁ ମାତୃଭାଷାରେ ଶିକ୍ଷା ଗ୍ରହଣରେ ବେଶ ସହାୟକ… pic.twitter.com/049DMKRNVR

— Pravati Parida (@PravatiPOdisha) August 18, 2025

IGNOU’s Official Announcement

IGNOU also confirmed the launch on its official handle, tweeting, "IGNOU Launches Study Materials for Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education in Odia. The release ceremony was graced by Smt. @PravatiPOdisha, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Women and Child Development, Government of Odisha; Shri @suryabanshibjp Minister of Higher Edu"

IGNOU Launches Study Materials for Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education in Odia

The release ceremony was graced by Smt. @PravatiPOdisha, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Women and Child Development, Government of Odisha; Shri @suryabanshibjp Minister of Higher Edu pic.twitter.com/oeXE5FUrey

— IGNOU (@OfficialIGNOU) August 18, 2025

Higher Education Minister’s Remarks

Expressing pride, the Education Minister stated on X, "Today is a proud moment for Odia language and Odia educational culture. The Odia version of DECE course of Indira Gandhi National Open University was launched today at Lok Seva Bhawan by the Higher Education Department. The Odia translation of this course was done on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Higher Education Department and IGNOU on June 9th. Through this diploma course conducted after +2, ‘Bal Batika’, Anganwadi trainers and other NGO members will be particularly benefited. Honorable Deputy Chief Minister Smt. @PravatiPOdisha was present at this event and launched the course."

ଆଜି ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷା ଓ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଶୈକ୍ଷିକ ସଂସ୍କୃତି ପାଇଁ ଏକ ଗୌରବର କ୍ଷଣ । ଲୋକସେବା ଭବନଠାରେ ଉଚ୍ଚଶିକ୍ଷା ବିଭାଗ ତରଫରୁ ଆଜି ଇନ୍ଦିରା ଗାନ୍ଧୀ ଜାତୀୟ ମୁକ୍ତ ବିଶ୍ୱବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟର DECE ପାଠ୍ୟକ୍ରମର ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସଂସ୍କରଣ ଉନ୍ମୋଚିତ ହୋଇଛି । ଗତ ଜୁନ ୯ ତାରିଖରେ ଉଚ୍ଚଶିକ୍ଷା ବିଭାଗ ତଥା IGNOU ମଧ୍ୟରେ ସ୍ଵାକ୍ଷର ହୋଇଥିବା ବୁଝାମଣା ପତ୍ର ଆଧାରରେ… pic.twitter.com/EqMGwUbUhW

— Suryabanshi Suraj (@suryabanshibjp) August 18, 2025

Step Towards Inclusive Education

With the launch of this Odia version of DECE, Odisha has taken a step forward in making higher education more inclusive and accessible. The initiative is expected to encourage more students, trainers, and early childhood educators to pursue the diploma, thereby strengthening grassroots education in the state.