Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s plan to revive the lost glory of government schools seems to be bearing fruit. The various development initiatives taken up by Jagan’s government like renovation of old schools under Nadu-Nedu, mid-day meal renamed Jagananna Gorumudda, Amma Vodi and a number of scholarship programmes have helped in witnessing a rise in the number of admissions in government schools.
According to the officials, as many as 2.5 lakh students got admitted in government schools in 2019-20. In this academic year (2020-21) too, 70,000 students had got enrolled in the state schools and these numbers are likely to increase in the coming days.
More number of students joining government schools ultimately means more loss to the corporate and private schools. Now, the managements of private schools are worried that the revival mission would hit their revenues.
The YCP government is determined to improve facilities in all state schools under the Nadu-Nedu programme. As part of it, works related to basic facilities were taken up in as many as 45,000 government schools last academic year. Every government school was provided with drinking water, toilets, compound wall, furniture, fans, lights, computer labs, other equipment to conduct digital classes and this attracted many parents which led to more admissions.
All these efforts by the state government are aimed at changing the low opinion people have about government schools.
This apart, the YCP government is also implementing the mid-day meal scheme in schools effectively and every student is being given textbooks, boots and uniforms, without fail.
The skyrocketing fee is a major deterrent weaning away parents from private schools. At such a time, the YCP government’s plan to introduce English medium from the primary school level is encouraging many parents to admit their wards in state schools.
In fact, compared to corporate schools, the number of qualified teachers is more in government schools. However, the reducing recognition for their services in government schools has made many of them seek employment in corporate and private schools.
With the YCP government pulling out all the stops to restore glory to the government schools, hope a bright future awaits students in Andhra Pradesh.
Tags AP Govt Schools