AP budget 2022: Andhra hikes education budget by 12.5% to Rs. 30,134.36 cr

The minister also announced the setting up of a New Model Degree College for Women in Araku to provide access to higher education for girls in the tribal region.

"According to NITI Aayog's Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index Report 2021, less than 2% of the population in Andhra Pradesh is deprived of school education. The impact of our pioneering programmes in the education sector is reflected in the impressive progress achieved in SDG 4 - Quality Education," said the finance minister.

According to the report, the adjusted net enrolment ratio in elementary education (classes 1-8) has increased to 91.72 % in 2021-22. It was 80.48% in 2019-20. The average annual dropout rate at the secondary level (classes 9-10) has reduced from 15.71 in 2019-20 to 2.84 in 2021-22. The gross enrolment ratio (GER) in higher secondary (classes 11-12) has increased from 69 in 2014-15 to 75.46 in 2021-22. Further, 94.56% of schools have basic infrastructure including electricity, drinking water. Also, all teachers at the secondary level are trained.

Foundation schools

Intending to lay the foundation for the all-around development of children aged 3-6 years, the AP government has introduced foundational schools with a revised early childhood education curriculum in line with the National Education Policy. Pre-primary 1 and pre-primary 2 have been introduced in all Anganwadi centres with a focus on the English language. All Anganwadi workers have been provided training on the new pre-school curriculum.

Out of 55,607 Anganwadi centres, 27,620 are operating as foundational schools and 27,987 as satellite foundational schools.

Rs. 1,517.64 crore has been allocated to Anganwadis, Rs. 1,200 crore for nutrition in Anganwadi centres, Rs. 201.82 crore for nutrition plus, and Rs. 330 crore for nutrition programmes.

So far, 298 children who lost their parents due to COVID-19 have been given ex-gratia of Rs. 10,000, the minister said.

Jagananna Amma Vodi

The budget provided Rs. 6,500 crore for the Jagananna Amma Vodi scheme. So far, the AP government has transferred Rs. 15,000 directly into the accounts of 44,48,865 mothers, benefitting around 84 lakh students studying from classes 1 to intermediate, said the minister.

Jagananna Vidya Deevena, Vasathi Deevan

The gross enrolment ratio in higher education (18-23 years) has increased from 32.4 in 2019-20 to 53.89 in 2021-22. This increase in GER is attributed to the total fee reimbursement and maintenance fee provided to students from financially weaker families through Jagananna Vidya Deevena and Jagananna Vasathi Deevena, the minister said. Fees to the tune of Rs. 4,500 crore has been paid for 87% of higher education students and has been reimbursed, he added.

The budget has allocated Rs. 2,500 crore for Jagananna Vidya Deevana and Rs. 2,083.32 crore for Jagananna Vasathi Deevana.

Nadu-Nedu

While phase II of Nadu-Nedu programme is on and 16,368 schools are being upgraded, the third phase to upgrade 24,620 schools will be taken up soon. A budget of Rs. 3,500 crore has been allocated for Mana-Badi Nadu Nedu programme in 2022-23. In phase I, 10 infrastructure facilities have been completed in 15,715 schools. Facilities include furniture, green chalkboards, fans and lights, drinking water, painting, necessary repairs, washrooms with running water, compound walls, kitchens, and an English lab.