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The Hindu
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Rewriting the rules of school in Andhra Pradesh
The Telugu Desam Party-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh is revisiting the education sector reforms introduced by its predecessor and is making changes wherever deemed necessary. Minister for Human Resources Development Nara Lokesh has stated that policies yielding positive outcomes will be retained, while those that failed to deliver tangible results will be rolled back. The task being both critical and challenging, the Minister is taking an objective and balanced view of the educational landscape, recognising that the well-being and future of students must remain at the heart of the new initiatives. Officials in the education department are assessing what has worked, what needs improvement, and how best to move forward without causing inconvenience to stakeholders. The task at hand is to cater to the needs of 58,535 schools, 68,15,925 students, and 3,13,112 teachers across the State. Of these, 44,285 are government schools with 33,37,762 students and 1,84,898 teachers; 789 are aided schools with 87,612 students and 3,259 teachers; 13,461 private schools with 33,90,551 students and 1,24,955 teachers. According to Mr. Lokesh, the TDP government inherited an education system in a state of paralysis, lacking essential frameworks and operational efficiency — a charge refuted by the YSR Congress Party, which has accused him of 'systematically weakening the education sector in the State.' The data show that the State has 12,512 single-teacher schools, 5,312 government schools with single-digit enrolment, and 14,052 State-run schools with 20 or fewer students. The overall enrolment in government schools declined by 10,49,596 students between 2022 and 2024. With declining learning outcomes, the government faces the formidable challenge of reversing the trend to secure children's futures. A recent survey suggested that 84.3% of Class III students could not read a Class-II level text, 62.5 % of Class V students struggled with basic reading, 47% of Class VIII students still could not read Class II level text, 59.1 % of Class III students could not perform basic subtraction, 54.8 % of Class VIII students could not perform division and only 12.9% and of Class III students could solve basic division problems. Citing the dismal result of the survey, Mr. Lokesh has rolled back his predecessor's initiatives such as transition of the government schools to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in 2022-23 without sufficient preparation, implementation of TOEFL in State-run schools at a cost of ₹58.84 crore, and the move to adopt International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum in government schools. A sum of Rs. 4.86 crore was paid for just the interim report for the proposed IB implementation. One of the most controversial decisions of the previous YSRCP government was GO 117, which reorganised schools and reapportioned teaching staff. The order divided schools into six categories and mandated the merger and de-merger of classes. The fragmentation of schools led to the number of schools having fewer than 10 students rising from 1,215 in 2021-22 to 5,312 in 2024-25, and schools with fewer than or equal to 20 students increasing from 5,520 to 14,052 during the same period, indicating a severe decline in student enrolment. To curb the ill effects of GO 117, the NDA government introduced GO 21, which revises the restructuring model by creating nine categories of schools. However, this faced trouble, with teacher unions raising serious concerns over its 'negative impact on the public education system'. GO 21 is part of the transformative journey called Learning Excellence in Andhra Pradesh, which aims to improve access, learning outcomes, and future-ready skills. The recently concluded 'Mega' DSC (District Selection Committee) exam, conducted to recruit 16,347 teachers in government schools after a gap of seven years, enhanced the government's image. Other welcomed steps include the introduction of academic star ratings to assess both student and teacher performance, targeted efforts to boost school enrolment in rural and tribal areas, and the consolidation of multiple teacher apps into a single platform. In intermediate education, curriculum and textbook revisions for first-year students are being implemented from the current academic year, aligning with the syllabus with national competitive standards. The revisions would be introduced for second-year students from the academic year 2026-27. The reach of the changes being made is very vast, and resistance to change is natural in large systems, especially when previous reforms are still being digested. The government should remain watchful of implementation gaps that often emerge. Due diligence is key to ensuring that the quality of learning improves without sacrificing stability.
Hans India
29-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
State govt will fulfill all promises: Anam
Nellore: Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy has asserted that government was committed to complete all assurances given to the public during 2024 electioneering in a phased manner. As part of ongoing 'Suparipalanalo Tholi Adugu' programme, the Minister has inaugurated developmental projects worth Rs 3 crore including opening of cement roads worth Rs 1.5 crore, panchayat office worth Rs 22.5 lakh and laid foundation stone for reconstruction of Neelakanteswara Swamy temple, etc in Turpu khambhampadu village of Chejerla mandal on Monday. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister has lauded that the one-year rule of TDP-led coalition government under the leadership of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has promoted good governance according to the wishes of the people. The Minister said that the same will be continued and the State would witness tremendous development in the coming four years. He said that following the initiative taken up by Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh, a mega job mela would be organised on August 1 and 2 in Atmakur town. He said that it was proposed to provide jobs for about 1,500 unemployed youth in various multinational companies in the two-day job mela. Ramanarayana Reddy said that Nellore MP Vemireddy Prabhakara Reddy and Municipal Administration Minister Ponguru Narayana will inaugurate the job mela for which all the necessary arrangements have been made. Ramanarayana Reddy participated in 'Suparipalanalo Tholi Adugu' programme at Girijana Colony in the village and asked the people if they were deriving benefit from the government welfare schemes.. Responding to the plea of the locals, the Minister sanctioned Rs 5 lakh for the construction of Poleramma temple. He also assured that a cement road would be constructed in the colony. Party leaders were present.
New Indian Express
21-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Andhra Pradesh's attempts to woo industrialists away from Karnataka won't work: CM Siddaramaiah
MYSURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday reassured investors of the state government's commitment to provide land to establish industries in Karnataka. Clarifying that no company will leave Karnataka, he reiterated that they have never said that land will not be provided to investors. When asked about the Andhra Pradesh Government swiftly stepping in to attract investors, following the Karnataka Government's decision to drop the land acquisition bid for the Devanahalli Aerospace and Defence Park, Siddaramaiah said AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh will not succeed in their attempts to take away industrialists looking for opportunities in Karnataka. When asked about the BJP's campaign against the Rs 18,000-crore tunnel road in Bengaluru, he replied: 'The BJP is against development.' All's good with DKS: Siddu Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also clarified that there are no differences between him and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. He charged that the BJP wants to divide them and take political advantage of the ensuing situation, and added that it will never happen. When asked about the BJP accusing him of insulting Shivakumar at the Sadhana Samavesha in Mysuru, Siddaramaiah said the question of insulting the latter does not arise since the DCM was not there when he was addressing the gathering. 'It is a practice that we welcome those who are present at the event,' he added. Meanwhile, Shivakumar said he had left the Samavesha venue to rush to New Delhi on an appointment with an advocate. He reiterated that there are no differences, adding that he had informed Siddaramaiah and Mysuru District in-charge minister HC Mahdevappa before his departure from the venue.
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Want to see ‘Admissions Closed' board outside government schools, says HRD Minister Lokesh
Human Resources Development (HRD) Minister Nara Lokesh on Friday said he looked forward to seeing 'Admissions Closed' boards outside government schools — a sign, he noted, that parents trust the quality of education in State-run institutions. He made the remark while felicitating Yelamanchili Durga Bhavani, headmistress of Zilla Parishad High School, Penamaluru (Krishna district), for her outstanding dedication and achievements. Mr. Lokesh said improving educational quality and boosting enrolment were top priorities for the government. Highlighting Ms. Durga Bhavani's accomplishments, the Minister said 54 students from her school scored above 500 marks in the 2025 SSC exams, while seven secured seats in IIITs. For three consecutive years, her students have consistently earned National Means-cum-Merit (NMM) scholarships. Her school has also achieved several milestones under her leadership — it was the first government school in the State to host a 'Graduation Day,' be selected under the PM SHRI Yojana, and introduce wall art, dance and music classes, and computer training through community engagement. It has also become a hub for student innovation under the Atal Tinkering Lab initiative. Calling her a role model for educators, Mr. Lokesh said his interactions with grassroots-level teachers have helped him better understand on-ground challenges and opportunities.
Zawya
15-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: AI, innovation in focus at human resources forum in Salalah
Salalah – The 11th Human Resources Development Conference opened at Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah on Sunday. The two-day event is themed 'Developing Human Resources through Training and Qualification', with focus on innovation and artificial intelligence. Held under the patronage of H H Sayyid Marwan bin Turki al Said, Governor of Dhofar, the conference has brought together officials, experts and specialists from Oman and abroad to discuss the future of workforce development in line with Oman Vision 2040. It aims to equip national talent with the skills needed to meet changing labour market demands, while providing a platform for exchange of expertise on integrating innovation and AI to enhance professional training and qualifications. Presenting the opening paper, H E Sayyid Salim bin Muslim al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Human Resources Development in Ministry of Labour, described investment in Omani human capital as central to achieving sustainable development and driving economic transformation. He said strengthening national competencies would contribute to improved quality of life, job creation and the transition towards a knowledge-based society capable of adapting to global change. Representing the conference's organising committee, Naif bin Hamed Fadhel, Chairman of Dhofar branch of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), said the global shift to a knowledge-based economy requires training systems that align with labour market needs. He called for development of an integrated national strategy to equip the workforce with analytical and innovation skills. The second paper was presented by Sheikh Mohammed bin Sulaiman al Kindi, Governor of North Batinah, on human development policies at the governorate level. This was followed by a presentation by Mohammed bin Hamoud al Naabi, CEO of Oman Energy Association (OPAL), who spoke on coordination between government, training institutions and professional associations. Day 1 of the conference also featured a panel discussion on sustainable human development, a workshop on training needs analysis, and a ceremony recognising the contributions of speakers and sponsors. The annual conference is organised by Al Assayel Conferences in partnership with Ministry of Labour, Dhofar Governor's Office and Dhofar branch of OCCI. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
