Unlock 2.0. Andhra Pradesh to reopen schools from August 16

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh government has decided to reopen schools in the state from August 16. The decision was taken by the Andhra Pradesh cabinet, which met here on Friday. The cabinet also approved the new education system.

Under the new system, satellite foundation schools shall have just pre-primary (Anganwadi). Foundation schools shall have pre-primary and Class I and II and foundation plus schools will have pre-primary to Class V. Pre-high schools shall have Class III to VII. High schools will have Class III to X. High school plus shall have Class III to Class XII.

All classes including the pre-primary would have English as a medium of instruction with the CBSE syllabus. They would also have Telugu as a compulsory subject from this academic year starting August 16.

The cabinet had also given the proposal to include the Anganwadi teachers in the new schools' structure. The Anganwadi teachers who are qualified for teaching would also get promotions and would be taken as teachers either on a contract basis or with a pay scale.

The cabinet also approved the second and third phase of the Nadu-Nedu programme in the schools, where the schools are renovated with additional facilities including digital classrooms, toilets, drinking water and playground. The cabinet approved the Jagananna Vidya Kanuka scheme through which the students get school uniforms, bags, books, and shoes for the second consecutive year.

Minister for Information and Transport, Perni Venkatramaiah, said that the government had taken up the schools' renovation scheme through Nadu-Nedu. He said that 15,000 schools were improved with additional facilities during the last one year. The government had cleared the proposal to continue the work in 34,000 schools spending Rs 21,000 crore, he said.

The cabinet also cleared the proposal to ensure the student-teacher ratio in all schools. The government would provide basic training for teachers to shift to the CBSE and English medium, the minister said. However, he said that Telugu would also be taught simultaneously.