Andhra Pradesh HRD Minister N. Lokesh having lunch with students after launching the ‘Dokka Seethamma Mid-Day Meal’ scheme, at the Government Junior College at Payakapuram in Vijayawada on January 4, 2025.
| Photo Credit: G.N. RAO
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Human Resources Development N. Lokesh on January 4, 2025 (Saturday) said the State government had undertaken the task of restoring people’s trust in the State-run educational institutions in a mission mode.
Speaking after launching the ‘Dokka Seethamma Mid-Day Meal’ scheme for Intermediate students at Payakapuram Government Junior College, Mr. Lokesh expressed concern over the dwindling number of students in government schools and colleges.
“Despite the fact that teachers in the government schools and colleges are more proficient than their counterparts in private institutions, we see this decline in student strength,” the Minister said, and attributed it to “lack of trust in the government education system.”
He said an ‘Andhra Model of School Education’ was being developed through reforms in the education sector.
Andhra Pradesh HRD Minister N. Lokesh interacting with the students at the Government Junior College at Payakapuram in Vijayawada on January 4, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
G.N. RAO
Advice to students
Mr. Lokesh said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was keen on seeing students of the government educational institutions giving tough competition to their peers in the private sector.
Interacting with the students of Intermediate final year in their classroom, Mr. Lokesh said, “This stage is a critical one in life and all of you should invest hard work and make the best of the opportunities that come your way in life.” He advised them not to drop out, and instead pursue higher education.
Speaking about reforms in the Intermediate curriculum, he said, from the next academic year, there would be strict internal assessments and students would be given NEET and EAMCET study material.
College hours had been extended by 90 minutes to improve the pass percentage, and based on their capabilities, students would be categorised into three groups with a designated caretaker to oversee their study hours. Focus would be on special coaching in subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and English, Mr. Lokesh explained.
‘No politics on campuses’
The Minister said, keeping politics out of the education sector was another priority area. “We will not allow political leaders’ photographs or any political party colours to be used in any educational institution. Barring job fairs, school campuses will not be used for any other activity, and students will not be used for any political event,” Mr. Lokesh said, adding that even welfare schemes had been renamed after persons who contributed greatly to Andhra history and culture.
Mega DSC
Mr. Lokesh pointed out that keeping its word to the unemployed youth, the government had announced a Mega DSC to recruit 16,347 teachers in the government sector, and had conducted the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).
Spiritual orator and scholar Chaganti Koteswara Rao was appointed adviser to the government for integrating ethics and values in education, the Minister said.
Mr. Lokesh had lunch with the students and interacted with them to know about their problems, and assured them of early solutions.
Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav; Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanadh; Vijayawada Central MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao; Gannavaram MLA Y. Venkata Rao; Secretary, School Education, Kona Sasidhar; Director of Intermediate Education Kritika Shukla; Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan State Project Director B. Srinivasa Rao; NTR district Collector Lakshmisha; and Vijayawada Police Commissioner Rajasekhara Babu were present.
Published – January 04, 2025 07:26 pm IST