Andhra to Develop ‘National Model’ in Education Sector: Minister Lokesh
Amaravati, May 20 (TNT): Andhra Pradesh Minister for Education, IT and Electronics Nara Lokesh on Wednesday said the State government was working towards developing the “Andhra Model of Education” as a benchmark for the country through structural reforms, technology integration and infrastructure development in government schools.
Addressing District Education Officers (DEOs) and Additional Project Coordinators (APCs) during a review meeting at the Secretariat here, Lokesh said the government was committed to building a world-class public education system and directed officials to focus on achieving 100 per cent student enrolment across the State.
He said teachers were being sent abroad to study international teaching practices and the best methods would be implemented in Andhra Pradesh schools.
Stressing the need for quality improvement, he said the government education system should be capable of competing with the open market.
The Minister revealed that nearly one lakh children across the State were currently school dropouts and directed officials to identify and enrol children who had never entered the education system.
Officials were instructed to take all decisions keeping the future of government school children at the centre of policymaking.
The Minister said the Guaranteed Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (GFLN) programme should be implemented as a mass movement and stressed the need to achieve 100 per cent foundational literacy and numeracy outcomes.
He observed that even a five per cent shortfall would affect lakhs of students.
Lokesh announced that clicker technology was being introduced for Class 9 students and Chromebooks would soon be distributed.
He said the “One Class–One Teacher” policy was being implemented and asked officials to improve enrolment in government schools by at least 10 per cent.
Highlighting infrastructure development, the Minister announced the introduction of a star-rating system for government schools to assess minimum infrastructure standards.
He said all schools should have leak-proof buildings, drinking water facilities, toilets, benches and proper maintenance systems.
He also announced plans to establish smart kitchens in government schools across the State within the next two years, following the pilot initiative implemented in Kadapa district.
Lokesh said the Nidamarru School in Mangalagiri constituency was being developed into an international-standard institution and had witnessed overwhelming demand for admissions.
He urged officials to develop at least one model school in every district.
The Minister said the LEAP app would become central to the administration of the education system and added that a public dashboard with school-level data would soon be made available.
He also announced plans to introduce AI-based learning systems and AI tutors in schools.
Emphasising the importance of value-based education, Lokesh said spiritual speaker Chaganti Koteswara Rao had been appointed Advisor with Cabinet rank to strengthen moral education initiatives in schools.
HRD Secretary Kona Sasidhar said the State had witnessed major reforms in school education during the last two years and that the system was now transitioning from the reform phase to consolidation.
School Education Director Tameem Ansariya and other senior officials attended the meeting.
TNT KM
