Andhra Pradesh Aims to Lead in Both Investments and Ethics: Nara Lokesh
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government is embarking on a significant initiative to embed moral and ethical values into the state’s education system, aiming to foster societal transformation and cultivate responsible citizens, announced Nara Lokesh, the state's Minister for Education, IT, and Electronics.
Speaking at a state-level education symposium on moral values at the Tummalapalli Ksetrayya Kalakshetram in Vijayawada, Nara Lokesh outlined a comprehensive vision driven by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. He stated that the government has appointed renowned spiritual orator Brahmasri Chaganti Koteswara Rao, with a cabinet rank, to guide this "sacred responsibility."
"Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu believes that change in society must be driven by moral values," Lokesh said, adding that Chaganti Koteswara Rao’s guidance will be instrumental in shaping the future of students.
A key focus of the reform will be promoting respect for women and gender equality, starting with school textbooks. Lokesh revealed that he has already directed officials to revise textbooks to depict men and women sharing household chores equally. "I noticed that pictures of domestic work were exclusively of women. We have changed this to a 50-50 representation," he explained, sharing that he and his wife, Brahmani, shared household duties while studying in the US.
The minister also called for an end to derogatory language against women in society, including in films and web series, a matter he said he has discussed with the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister.
Drawing from personal experiences during his Yuva Galam padayatra, Nara Lokesh spoke of the urgent need to address social issues like drug abuse, which he linked to a decline in moral values. "After our government was formed, we declared a war on drugs. This is a responsibility we must all take seriously," he asserted.
Lokesh acknowledged the challenges of his portfolio but framed it as an opportunity for meaningful change. He recounted his electoral loss in 2019 and subsequent victory in 2024 from the Mangalagiri constituency with a majority of over 91,000 votes as a lesson in perseverance.
He highlighted recent achievements in the education sector, including the successful completion of the Mega DSC to recruit 16,347 teachers in 150 days, the implementation of a teacher transfer act, and the "one class, one teacher" policy in 9,600 schools.
The minister also mentioned new non-political initiatives like student kits named after Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and a mid-day meal scheme named after Dokka Seethamma. Urging students to honour the sacrifices of their parents, Lokesh concluded, "Our goal is to make Andhra Pradesh number one not only in attracting investments but also in upholding moral values."
The event was attended by MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni), MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao, and senior officials from the education department.