VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said that the state government was introducing revolutionary reforms in education to boost the skills and abilities of students, right from the primary school level. He also instructed that Telugu must be taught as a compulsory subject in schools.
The Chief Minister held a review meeting on foundation schools, Nadu-Nedu in education department and New Education Policy at Tadepalli on Wednesday. He said that Jagananna Vidya Kanuka scheme would be launched in West Godavari district on August 16 marking the reopening of schools.
Reddy directed officials to ensure that teachers are appointed as per the classification and in accordance with the student-teacher ratio.
Officials said that schools have been classified into six categories under the NEP from PP-1 to 12th grade, where Satellite schools will be offering PP-1, PP-2; Foundation schools offering PP-1, PP- 2, class 1 and 2; Foundation Plus schools offering PP-1, PP-2 and classes 1-5; Pre-high schools teaching PP-1, PP-2, and classes 1-7; High schools from classes 3-10 and High School Plus from classes 3- 12. This will result in an increase in the number of schools from 44,000 to about 58,000.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the medium of instruction will be English, as the students have to survive in the competitive world and Telugu as a compulsory subject. He said that single teacher schools will be transformed, whereby different subjects will be taught by different teachers. He further said that a promotion channel will be set up for qualified anganwadi teachers. He stated that the government has been spending over Rs 16,000 crore on NEP and Nadu-Nedu programmes.
Officials said that enrollment across schools was 72.33 lakh by 2014-15 and had dropped to 70.43 lakh by 2018-19. It reached 73.06 lakh by 2020-21, thanks to implementation of Amma Vodi Scheme. They said the enrollment in government schools in the state was 42.83 lakh by 2014-15; 37.21 lakh by 2018-19 and now had reached 43.44 lakh by 2020-21.
Education minister Adimulapu Suresh, School principal secretaries Buditi Rajashekar, AR Anuradha, finance secretary N Gulzar, women and child welfare director Kritika shukla, school education commissioner Chinaveerabhadrudu and other officials were present.
