Vijayawada: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has heralded major educational reforms in 2023 in ways as to equip the children to ably adjust with the modern world.
Reframing of the curriculum on these lines has been attempted across schools in AP. Distribution of tabs, IFPs, introduction of English medium, IB and other advanced teaching modules have been the highlights of this endeavour.
“The chief minister redefined the concept of education and changed the learning and teaching methods. Apart from motivating the students to pursue their academic interests, the CM regularly took stock of the progress in educational reforms in AP,” they said.
Digitalization of classrooms, renovation of schools under Nadu-Nedu, and introduction of AI (Artificial intelligence) and IB (International Baccalaureate) curricula in government educational institutions were the major steps of the state government in this respect.
“The chief minister has been attempting to enhance GER and reduce the dropout rate in schools and colleges while helping students improve their English communication skills and turn themselves into global citizens equipped with knowledge of emerging technologies.”
Officials said, “The results are tangible in the GRE reaching 100 per cent in 2023 from 84.48 in 2018. The transparent implementation of a slew of pro-educational welfare programmes like Jagananna Vidya Deevena, Vasathi Deevena, Amma Vodi, Videshi Vidya Deevena, Goru Mudda, Vidya Kanuka, YSR Sampoorna Poshana, Nadu-Nedu, YSR Kalyanamasthu and Shadi Tohfa has begun yielding desired results and made Nandyala the first district to have hundred per cent enrolment.”
Across the state, 1,49,515 students have rejoined schools in 2023 due to the vibrant schemes being implemented by the state government. The introduction of bilingual textbooks has drawn appreciation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This apart, making Ragi Malt a part of the Jagananna Goru Mudda has become an instant hit with the students.
“With the Jagan-led government spending Rs 3,746.82 crore for the second phase of Nadu-Nedu, this would create a scenario of government schools competing with corporate schools both in looks and standards.”
Education minister Botsa Satyanarayana said the MoU signed with the US-based online teaching platform edX helps students learn 1800 emerging technology courses that are not available in our school syllabus and get certificates from world-famous institutions like MIT and Harvard University.
The state government’s determination to introduce AI and IB curriculum for school and college students would take their academic careers to the “global level and bring them on par with students in advanced countries,” he claimed.
He said, “With the introduction of CBSE syllabus and English medium in schools coupled with the distribution of bilingual textbooks to students, the year 2023 also saw 67 government school students getting seats in IITs, NIT and other central universities. This apart, 10 government school students from Andhra Pradesh represented the country in the UNO-affiliated committee discussions in the US.”
Satyanarayana said, “Government school students, now getting trained in the basics and advanced versions of TOEFL, will also have the bonanza of learning AI-related subjects and following the IB curriculum from next year.”
"This would help them move on the path of becoming global products with knowledge in emerging technologies. More than 87 per cent of the students of Classes III to IX have taken unit tests in English medium and the average percentage of students taking to English medium in 2023 stood much more than double of the national average,” the minister claimed.
