Minister Nara Lokesh Announces ‘No Bag Day’ Every Saturday in Schools

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Education Nara Lokesh has taken a significant decision to implement ‘No Bag Day’ in schools every Saturday. He has directed officials to introduce this initiative to relieve students from carrying school bags once a week.

During a review meeting on school and intermediate education, Nara Lokesh emphasized the importance of co-curricular activities in schools. As part of this effort, he suggested that every Saturday be designated as ‘No Bag Day’ to provide students with a break from carrying school bags.

Additionally, he instructed officials to expedite the development of a single integrated application for teachers, replacing multiple existing apps. He also emphasized the need to link the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID to verify the exact number of students in schools, directing that this integration be completed as soon as possible.

Regarding the withdrawal of Government Order (GO) 117, Nara Lokesh stated that opinions should be gathered from teachers and various associations at the field level before arriving at a solution that is acceptable to all stakeholders.

During preparatory meetings conducted by the Director of School Education, officials presented various suggestions and feedback to the minister. Considering these inputs, Nara Lokesh directed authorities to implement measures ensuring that no student drops out of school. He also instructed officials to prepare a blueprint for the Andhra Pradesh Model of Education to facilitate public consultation.