Andhra Model Education to be National Benchmark: Lokesh

Vijayawada: Education minister Nara Lokesh on Wednesday said the state government is determined to transform the Andhra model of education into a national benchmark through world-class public schooling, technology-driven reforms and outcome-based learning.

Addressing a review meeting with district educational officers and additional project coordinators, at the Secretariat on Wednesday, Lokesh said the government was introducing major reforms to improve quality in government schools and make the public education system globally competitive.

“We want government education to compete in the open market. If quality does not improve, children will suffer,” he said, adding that teachers are being sent abroad to study international teaching methods that would later be implemented in the state.

The minister directed officials to focus on achieving 100 per cent enrolment and reducing dropouts. Nearly one lakh children in the state were currently classified as dropouts, he said and stressed the need to identify children who had never enrolled in schools.

“Children studying in government schools should be treated like our own children. Every decision should focus on their future,” Lokesh said.

Highlighting reforms under the “Learning Excellence in Andhra Pradesh” initiative, he said Guaranteed Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (GFLN) must be implemented like a mass movement. Clicker technology for Class IX students and Chromebooks would soon be introduced to strengthen classroom learning.

Lokesh said the government had launched a star-rating system for infrastructure in government schools. Leak-proof buildings, drinking water, toilets, benches and proper classrooms would be ensured in every school. Smart kitchens would be established in all government schools within two years.

The minister said teachers should focus only on teaching while administrators handled governance and monitoring through the LEAP app and integrated dashboards. AI-based learning tools and AI tutors would also be introduced soon.

Citing the Nidamarru school in Mangalagiri constituency as a model, Lokesh said it was being developed into an international-standard school with improved facilities attracting parents from neighbouring areas. He urged officials to develop at least one model school in every district.

Emphasising moral education, Lokesh said value-based education sessions would be conducted every Saturday. He also stressed the importance of gender sensitivity, yoga and sports in schools.

HRD secretary Kona Sasidhar said Andhra Pradesh had witnessed unprecedented reforms in school education over the past two years and called for continued accountability and consolidation of reforms to achieve targeted outcomes.