AP to provide free mid-day meals to intermediate students in government colleges: Lokesh

The decision was taken during a review meeting held by education minister Nara Lokesh at Undavalli that was attended by senior officials from the department of School Education and Intermediate Education.

Lokesh highlighted the issue of high dropout rates among economically disadvantaged students who complete their Class 10. Providing mid-day meals in government Intermediate colleges could help reduce the dropout rates to some extent, he felt.

Additionally, he recommended the establishment of a question bank for underperforming Intermediate students.

The minister proposed identifying slow learners through assessments based on the Sankalp programme and assigning college lecturers and staff as "caretakers" for these students.

He also suggested that necessary repairs be carried out in severely damaged government junior colleges across the state.

Lokesh stressed the importance of conducting the Mega Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTM) in a festive atmosphere on Dec 7 in government schools across the state. No political party flags, banners or symbols should be displayed at the meetings, ensuring neutrality, he said.

The meetings will be attended by ministers, legislators and other representatives from the respective constituencies.

Lokesh said he and chief minister Chandrababu Naidu would participate in the Mega PTM at Bapatla Government High School.

He said, “To improve the quality of education and provide infrastructure in government schools, a star rating system will be introduced with 18 standardized criteria for evaluation. This apart, to improve the pass rate of 10th-grade students, a 100-day action plan will be implemented.”

The curriculum overhaul for the next academic year will have its focus on teaching life skills, social responsibility and moral values as well as promoting gender equality and civic sense from an early age, he said.

The minister stressed the need for incorporating the Japanese model of life skills into the curriculum. He called for gathering feedback at the grassroots level for implementing better policies, including inviting School Management Committees (SMCs) to participate in discussions.

Lokesh clarified that school grounds would not be allowed for any activities by outsiders other than for holding job fairs.

School education secretary Kona Sasidhar, commissioner V Vijayaramaraju and intermediate education director Kritika Shukla were present.