US Visit: AP students propose 5-point programme to World Bank

Vijayawada: The AP government school delegation comprising 10 students and two teachers and two senior officials proposed a 5-point programme to the World Bank, which has won instant appreciation there.

Their latest visit was to the World Bank at Washington DC, where they were invited for an informal lunch followed by an elaborate session on Education & Health with leading World Bank officials including Ms Rifat Hasan, lead health specialist, Tracy Wilichowski, world bank analyst and Laura Gregory, senior education specialist.

Senior official B Srinivasa Rao and state project director, Samagra Siksha, were part of the AP team currently in the US.

The World Bank representatives at the meeting lauded the initiatives taken by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in the field of education like the Amma Vodi, Nadu-Nedu, the introduction of English Medium in schools and the usage of bilingual textbooks.

The representatives expressed their desire to get more involved in AP Government’s effort to invest in human capital. Later, they asked the AP students to throw in their ideas for making the engagement more effective in the future. The students proposed a 5-point programme.

 The first was a programme to sensitise the parent community to prioritise and encourage education. They also proposed a common online platform for students across the world to exchange ideas and discuss topics like Climate Change and Sustainable Development. Three, start of numerous exchange programmes with top foreign universities. Four, the introduction of activity clubs in government schools (environment/culture). Five, introduction of the United Nations model concept and state- level competitions on the same.