Amaravati, Feb 17 (TNT): Andhra Pradesh Minister for Education, IT and Electronics Nara Lokesh on Tuesday said that the previous government’s GO 117 had distanced poor students from government schools and asserted that the present “people’s government” repealed the order after coming to power.
Replying to a question raised by Palasa MLA Goutu Sirisha during the Question Hour in the Assembly, Lokesh said that despite launching the ‘Nadu-Nedu’ programme, the previous regime had allowed 233 schools to face closure.
He said the “One Class – One Teacher” policy was crucial for strengthening school education.
While only 3 per cent of schools had implemented the system earlier, the government has now increased it to 33 per cent, he stated, adding that this would ensure improved teaching standards and better examination results.
The Minister said the government has prioritised five key infrastructure components in schools — leak-proof buildings, painting, benches, toilets and drinking water facilities.
He said Rs 200 crore available in School Management Committee (SMC) accounts and an additional Rs 800 crore allocated in the Budget would together enable the government to spend Rs 1,000 crore next year on upgrading infrastructure in government schools.
Lokesh said a rating system had been introduced for government schools. At present, about 40 per cent of schools fall in the 1- and 2-star categories, and none has achieved a 5-star rating.
The government’s objective is to bring all schools to at least 3- and 4-star standards in a phased manner, he said.
He also assured that pending bills related to works taken up between 2014 and 2019 would be cleared.
Earlier, Goutu Sirisha alleged that the previous government had adopted “erratic policies” in the education sector and that irregularities were committed under the ‘Nadu-Nedu’ scheme, resulting in several incomplete buildings and unfinished toilets across the state.
She urged the government to complete pending classrooms and building works at the earliest and to take action over alleged irregularities in the past five years.
TNT TS
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