Andhra Pradesh schools to get more classrooms under NEP: CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has directed the officials concerned to focus on constructing additional classrooms for the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) in the state from the next academic year.

In a review meeting held with the education department officials at his camp office on Wednesday, Jagan directed them to take steps for starting the classroom works and identify the number of teachers required for the NEP implementation.

The officials said the main purpose of the NEP was to keep the teacher-student ratio rational and ensure subject-wise teachers. The NEP will be fully implemented in three phases over the three academic years from 2021-22 to 2022-23 and 2023-24. As part of this, 25,396 primary schools will be merged with upper primary schools and high schools. Under the first phase, 2,663 schools with 2,05,071 students were merged this academic year. A total of 9.5 lakh students were given access to the NEP this year alone, officials said.

The officials explained the status of satellite foundation schools, foundational schools, foundation plus schools, pre-high schools, high schools and high school plus schools being set up in the state.

As many as 1,092 State schools got CBSE affiliation during the academic year 2021-22, setting a record. Students from these schools will appear for the class X exams by 2024-25. In all, 24,000 schools across the world have CBSE affiliation.

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Speaking on ways to strengthen the District Institute for Education and Training (DIET) institutions, the Chief Minister directed the officials to offer quality training for the teachers.

The chief minister reiterated that surrendering of the aided schools to the government is voluntary. "The government will give only one opportunity to those aided educational institutions who are unable to run for various reasons. The aided institutions can either voluntarily merge with the government or continue to run them. If the managements hand over the institutions, the government will run them, retaining their names," the CM said.

Even those institutions which earlier opted to surrender institutions or only teachers can reconsider their decision. The Chief Minister also instructed the officials to focus on maintenance of toilets in schools and conduct regular inspections.

Headmasters should focus on providing quality education, midday meals and other facilities. Instructions were given to the officials to take regular feedback on Gorumudda scheme from parents and students and take necessary steps in case of any problems. Collectors, JCs, and officials should monitor the scheme and check the quality of food. He instructed the officials to bring the concept of 'Learn to Earn' into the curriculum and said the concept of learning various subjects through the internet and electronic devices. Education Minister Adimulapu Suresh, Principal Secretary (School Education) Buditi Rajashekar and other officials were present.

A phone number should be made available for parents and students to lodge complaints and make suggestions on the problems or facilities at the school, the CM said and directed the officials to display the number in every school. He also asked them to submit a feedback on the actions taken on the complaints or suggestions.