A total of 3,843 elementary schools in Andhra Pradesh have been identified for development as ‘model schools’ by upgrading the facilities in the institutions, State Project Director of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) V.B. Ramana Murthy has said.
Strengthening the existing infrastructure through provision of additional classrooms, toilets, drinking water, computers, and maintaining healthy teacher- student ratio are among the initiatives to be taken up in the model schools, Mr. Ramana Murthy said interacting with The Hindu on the sidelines of the 48{+t}{+h}quarterly review meeting of financial controllers of the SSA here on Thursday. The target is to develop all the model schools by March-end. The objective of the SSA is to provide free education in the 6-14 age group as guaranteed by the 86{+t}{+h}amendment of the Constitution as a Fundamental Right.
One of the focus areas of the SSA was ensuring education of girls and bringing down the dropout rate.
“Girls education is being taken care of through the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs). There are 352 KGBVs in Andhra Pradesh and most of them are giving excellent results. These are residential schools where food and accommodation needs of the students are met.”
“Most of the girls studying in these schools hail from poor families, or are orphaned and socially backward, but they are competing with their counterparts in private schools. Some of the students of these schools have done MBBS and M. Tech courses.”
“The KGBV at Bheemunipatnam located near the city is an example. This school is located in a rented building, but we have identified a site and it is in the finalisation stage. Eight new KGBVs have been planned and most of these would be in the backward areas of Rayalaseema. Two would, however, be located in Visakhapatnam district,” Mr. Ramana Murthy said.
Supply of uniforms
A decision was taken to go for global tenders for supply of quality uniforms to students of elementary schools. He admitted that APCO was unable to supply uniforms in time.
3,843 elementary schools in Andhra Pradesh stand to gain
