Latest news with #SMCs
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Andhra's mega parent-teacher meeting sets Guinness Record
VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh has etched its name in the Guinness World Records by successfully organising the world's largest Parent-Teacher Meeting (Mega PTM), held simultaneously across more than 61,000 government schools in the State. The landmark achievement was formally announced by Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh on Monday, who credited the feat to the unwavering commitment of teachers, education officials, students, and the wider community. According to Guinness World Records, over 53.4 lakh parents and teachers participated directly in the event. When including students, alumni, School Management Committees (SMCs), education volunteers, donors, and public representatives, total participation crossed 1.5 crore (15.2 million), making it the largest gathering of its kind ever recorded globally. The Mega PTM is part of the government's larger mission to revitalise public education by improving infrastructure, integrating digital tools, enhancing transparency, and fostering community ownership. Under the AP Model Schools initiative, the state is working toward a futuristic, inclusive education system that aligns with its broader vision of becoming a global hub for knowledge and innovation, referred to as 'Quantum Valley.' To ensure credibility and scale, each school was required to submit detailed participation evidence via the LEAP App—a digital platform developed by the state government to streamline academic planning and performance monitoring. Schools uploaded three photographs, one video, verified participant counts, and witness reports. The verification process involved over 40 Guinness-appointed auditors who rigorously reviewed data submitted from the participating schools. Minister Lokesh emphasised that the achievement goes beyond numbers. 'This milestone reflects our commitment to making education a shared, community-driven effort. It is a tribute to the teachers who continue to be the backbone of this transformation,' he said. Samagra Shiksha Project Director B Srinivasa Rao hailed the recognition as a powerful endorsement of the reforms under way. He noted that the state is building a more equitable, quality-focused education ecosystem through inclusive initiatives and technology-led monitoring. The Guinness World Records certificate will be formally presented in the second week of August at a special event in Amaravati.
NDTV
2 days ago
- General
- NDTV
Andhra Pradesh Sets World Record For Largest Parent-Teacher Meeting
World's Largest PTM: Andhra Pradesh has officially entered the Guinness Book of World Records for organising the world's largest Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM), a monumental achievement for the state's education sector. The "Mega PTM" initiative, spearheaded by Andhra Pradesh education minister Nara Lokesh, saw an unprecedented participation of 53.4 lakh (5.34 million) parents and teachers directly. The total participation soared to over 1.5 crore (15 million) people across the state including students, alumni, school management committees (SMCs), and other stakeholders. The record-breaking event was held on July 10, 2025 and the intent was to strengthen the crucial link between parents and educators. This is the second major education-focused event since the formation of the new alliance government in Andhra Pradesh. Education minister Nara Lokesh pointed out that achieving a Guinness World Record just a day before the fifth anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) on July 29 is a fitting tribute to the dedicated teachers and community involvement. "This record validates our commitment to inclusive education and strengthening the public education system," he said. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also actively participated in the Mega PTM at Kothacheruvu ZP High School in Sri Sathya Sai district, where he even took on the role of a teacher, delivering a lesson on renewable energy. He emphasized the importance of parental involvement in education reforms and urged parents to contribute actively to school development. The data for the Guinness World Record validation was meticulously collected through the LEAP app, including photos, videos, and independently verified participant counts from over 61,000 schools. A team of more than 40 auditors appointed by Guinness World Records reviewed the submissions before officially confirming the record. The formal certificate ceremony for this global recognition is scheduled for the second week of August 2025 in Amaravati, marking a historic moment for Andhra Pradesh as it solidifies its place on the global education map by setting a new benchmark for community participation in strengthening the school ecosystem.
New Indian Express
17-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu govt schools to review academic performance during SMC meet on July 25
CHENNAI: The Samagra Shiksha (Integrated Education Department) has directed all government schools in Tamil Nadu to conduct the first School Management Committee (SMC) meeting of the academic year on July 25. Headmasters and teachers have been instructed to review their school's performance in the State-Level Achievement Survey (SLAS) during the meeting and present their respective block, district, and state-level rankings. They are also expected to discuss strategies to improve student learning outcomes. Under the Targeted Help for Improving Remediation and Academic Nurturing (Thiran) initiative, students who are yet to achieve basic learning outcomes have been enrolled in special remedial classes. SMC members must be informed about these students and monitor their progress. After six months, the committee can assess improvements in their performance. The agenda also includes updates on the implementation of Ennum Ezhuthum, donations received through Namma School and Namma Oor Palli initiatives, inclusive education efforts, measures to prevent dropouts, awareness of Pocso Act, and career guidance and sports activities. According to the school education department, SMCs across the state have passed 1,92,543 resolutions since their reconstitution in August 2024. These were categorised based on the level of action required – school, district, or state. Of these, 1,50,421 resolutions (78%) have been acted upon. To streamline the redressal process, the department has launched a dedicated application to upload resolutions. SMCs can now classify and submit them under six categories, including emergency, welfare schemes, and infrastructure.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Reconstitute school mgmt panels, says govt amid complaints of irregularities
Gurgaon: In a major administrative shake-up , the Directorate of School Education has ordered dissolution and reconstitution of all school management committees (SMCs) across government schools in the district. The directive, issued on July 9, nullifies even those committees formed as recently as April following several complaints regarding their improper formation. Officials said the move is aimed at aligning SMC structures with the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Revised guidelines have been circulated to district education officers and school heads, introducing stricter eligibility norms and oversight measures to enhance governance, ensure parental representation and strengthen school-level accountability. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon Among the key reforms is a rule that schools operating on the same campus must now form a single SMC. Parent representatives must be drawn from each class and teachers who engage in private tuition are barred from being members. The restructured SMCs will operate through two tiers — a General Body and an Executive Committee — both with a two-year term. The Executive Committee, which will serve as the key decision-making body, must have at least 14 members. Of these, 75 percent must be parents or guardians and at least 50 percent must be women. The committee will also include two teachers, one member from the local municipal body or panchayat, a social worker and a block resource sordinator. "The SMCs comprise locals who have the best interest of children and can support school developmen," said an official
New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Andhra government aims for Guinness record with Mega PTM 2.0
VIJAYAWADA: The School Education Department is gearing up to organise Mega Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) 2.0 on July 10, continuing the momentum from last year's historic gathering and aims to set a new Guinness World Record. Director of the Comprehensive Education State Project, B Srinivasa Rao, said in a statement that the State is aiming to bring together over 2.28 crore participants for this year's Mega PTM, surpassing the massive turnout of over one crore attendees recorded on December 7, 2023. 'The initiative is not just a PTM, but a festival of learning involving students, parents, teachers, alumni, School Management Committees (SMCs), donors, and public representatives,' Rao noted. In line with the Guinness World Records requirements, Rao clarified that each participating school must register a non-governmental witness to authenticate the event's legitimacy. These witnesses could be village sarpanches, MPTC members, retired government employees, local donors, former students, or any other individuals from within the school. The witness registration is to be completed exclusively on the LEAP app, and it is mandatory for schools aspiring to be part of the Guinness record entry. 'The witness should not be a government employee, and this process is only for verification purposes, with no other motive,' Rao said. 'The success of this initiative lies in teamwork. Teachers, education officials, and the public must join hands to make this spiritual gathering of education a milestone,' he said.
