Andhra Pradesh’s Education and IT Minister, Nara Lokesh, declared an ambitious goal on Monday: to elevate government schools to such a high standard that they would proudly display “No Admission” boards, a true testament to their popularity and quality. He highlighted that 100 schools across the state have already achieved this status, with plans to extend this success to over 42,000 institutions.
Responding to a query in the Legislative Assembly from Narasaraopet MLA Chadalavada Aravind Babu, Minister Lokesh explained that previous government orders (GO 117 and GO 85) had regrettably led to nearly 10 lakh underprivileged children exiting public schools and negatively impacted primary education. These detrimental orders were revoked on May 13, 2025, and replaced by new directives (GOs 19, 20, and 21) that introduced the progressive ‘One Class–One Teacher’ model.
The Minister proudly reported that the number of primary schools adopting this enhanced model has surged from 1,398 before the coalition assumed power to an impressive 9,620. Similarly, upgraded upper primary schools have increased significantly from 124 to 729.
Under the ‘Mana Badi – Mana Bhavishyathu’ initiative, schools will receive vital additional classrooms and infrastructure improvements, largely through the generous support of donors. To ensure transparency, an online portal has been established for contributions, with donors also having the opportunity to have schools named in their honor. Furthermore, a star-rating system is already active for schools, with legislators actively involved in uplifting one and two-star rated institutions.
To combat dropout rates, the government is implementing a crucial transport allowance program. Parents whose children attend primary schools located more than one kilometer away will receive ₹600 per month for ten months, deposited directly into their accounts. This year, approximately 70,000 students are projected to benefit from this supportive measure.
Minister Lokesh concluded with a strong commitment, stating, “Our mission is to build government schools that are not just on par with private institutions, but even better, delivering stronger learning outcomes.”