Rs 12,000 crore Nadu-Nedu programme in Andhra Pradesh to turn govt schools into competitive institutions
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched the Nadu-Nedu programme which aims at transforming government schools into vibrant and competitive institutions. The scheme is set to cover all schools in three years with a budget of Rs 12,000 crores.
Turning a new leaf in education sector, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched the Nadu-Nedu programme which aims at transforming government schools into vibrant and competitive institutions.
He said his government will overcome all the challenges and clear every hurdle as the goal is to meet the requirement of what the fast-changing technology in the world expects from youth ten years from now.
Preparing Andhra Pradesh govt schools for a job market 15 years in the future
Addressing the gathering at the PVR High School here on Thursday, Chief Minister Reddy said that "despite the criticism from detractors, we will go ahead with English medium schools as we have to prepare the students to boldly face and stand up to the requirements of the technology-driven world and we should not be found wanting and feel guilty if the generation next cannot be prepared to face the highly dynamic and technology-driven world."
"Change will come only if the right decision is taken at the right time as we are competing with a job market that would be there five, ten or fifteen years from now," Reddy said.
"There has been criticism and detractors have been running a campaign targeting me, but we will carry our mission and the future of next-generation is on top priority," he said.
More details of Nadu-Nedu scheme in Andhra Pradesh govt schools
The Nadu-Nedu scheme will be implemented in 15,715 Andhra Pradesh government schools in the first phase and will cover all schools in three years' time with a budget of Rs 12,000 crores.
For the first year in the first phase, Rs 3,500 crores will be spent for infrastructure development.
"We will transform all government schools with the required infrastructure and upgradation of skills besides setting up of English labs in addition to providing basic amenities like clean environs, furniture, toilets, running water, compound wall, blackboard, renovation and involve parent committee," said CM Reddy.
Introduction of English medium instruction in all Andhra Pradesh govt schools
"On the introduction of English medium from Classes 1 to 6, there are many detractors and those in high places have been making comments and they should realise that there is no place for hypocrisy in a democracy," Reddy said.
"They have to introspect if they are sending their children and grandchildren to government schools or to English medium schools. This shows that they do not practice what they preach. Weaker sections and underprivileged should not be deprived of opportunities and we are providing them with such programmes," said the chief minister.
"The 2011 census says that our state illiteracy rate is 33% and to uplift the marginalized sections we have to take bold decisions like switching over to English medium. There would be some difficulties and challenges but have to face and we will overcome," he said.
Read: Andhra Pradesh govt to introduce English medium from next academic year, 70k teachers to be trained
Only education can take the generation next forward, CM Reddy said.
He showed children live examples of Education Minister Adimoolapu Suresh who studied in Telugu medium but shifted to English medium and went on to become IRS Officer.
Next to him were the top bureaucrats Rajasekhar Reddy, and Dhanunjay Reddy -- both IAS officers who shifted to English medium in search of a better future and made their mark.
"During my 3,648 km padayatra, I have seen family members pouring their woes out about the lack of a level playing field as their children are left behind due to the non-availability of avenues," said Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
"This was a conscious decision taken after due consideration and visualizing what our future generation requires in the new age of Artificial Intelligence(AI) and Robotics where driverless cars would be coming into vogue," he added.
Read: Andhra Pradesh govt appoints IAS officer for English-medium education in schools
Other measures being taken by Andhra Pradesh govt to transform education
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy also made a few other announcements regarding the steps being taken to transform education in the state:
- Amma Vodi will be introduced on January 9, 2020, where the Andhra Pradesh government will incentivize the mother for sending their children to school and continue till intermediate.
- Fees reimbursement will be taken up in a big way in all degree and professional colleges and there will be one-year apprenticeship for the youth to gear up for the jobs.
- This apart, a Skill Development University will be set up and under its umbrella, all 25 Skill Development Centres will function to have an interface with education and industry.
"We have created four lakh jobs, of which 1.3 lakh are in government," CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy added.
Read: Andhra Pradesh set to introduce English medium in govt schools from class 1 to 8