VIJAYAWADA: The 10+2 education system will become history after the implementation of 5+3+3+4 education pattern under the new education policy (NEP) in Andhra Pradesh.
The state government gave approval to NEP last year and is to implement the new system from this academic year. There will be three types of institutions in the new education system-Pre Primary Schools (PP1 and PP2), Foundational Schools (PP1, PP2, Preparatory Class I, Classes 1 and 2) and Secondary Schools (Classes 3 to 10/12).
The government wanted NEP implementation and rolling out of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in a phased manner in Anganwadis and primary and upper primary schools and further transformation from the 10+2 academic structure to 5+3+3+4 structure.
Under the new set up, all existing Anganwadi centres will function as YSR Pre Primary Schools with PP1 and PP2. The existing primary schools will have Preparatory 1st class, Class I and Class II and will be called Foundational Schools. The PP1 and PP2 of AWC (YSR Pre Primary School) and the Preparatory 1st class, Class I and II of primary school will be the combined unit of a foundational school.
Children now studying Class III to V in the existing primary schools will move to the nearest UP school or high school.
If the strength is more than 150 in case of a UP school, it would be upgraded to a high school status. Schools with high enrolment and adequate infrastructure would be upgraded as secondary schools with 12th standard as junior colleges.
Teachers P Venkateswara Rao and S Raheem said that the education policy has been changed after 34 years and there will be no board exams till 12 class. They opined that NEP would bring relief to students with the cancellation of board exams.
MLC KS Lakshmana Rao said that the government should consult educationists, teachers unions and teachers’ constituency MLCs before implementation of NEP but the same was absent and this could create problems in the future.
AP Teachers Federation leaders A. Sadasiva Rao and K. Venkateswara Rao feared that the merger of 3, 4 and 5 classes into high school within three kilometres of radius could result in dropouts as poor families cannot afford transportation charges. Minister for education, Adimulapu Suresh said that the new pattern of education would be a boon to students.
