Nara Lokesh's Vision for AP Education: Free School Electricity, Skill Development, and AI Courses
The coalition government in Andhra Pradesh has taken a significant step toward implementing the vision of Minister for Education Nara Lokesh to establish an "AP Model Education" system over the next five years. In line with this objective, State Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav recently announced several key decisions supporting public education in the state budget presented in the Legislative Assembly.
As part of these initiatives, the government has made a revolutionary decision to provide free electricity to over 44,000 government schools across the state. This move is expected to reduce the financial burden on local bodies while creating a more teacher-friendly environment in classrooms. The government believes that this initiative will help alleviate pressure on both teachers and students, ultimately improving academic performance.
Fulfilling one of the "Super-6" election promises, the government has decided to implement the Talliki Vandanam scheme starting from the 2025-26 academic year. Under this initiative, every student from Grades 1 to 12 will receive ₹15,000 annually. Additionally, through the Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidya Mitra scheme, 35.69 lakh students studying in government schools will be provided with free uniforms, shoes, and books. The Dokka Seethamma Mid-Day Meal scheme will ensure that students receive nutritious meals made with high-quality rice.
In terms of budget allocation, the previous administration led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had allotted ₹29,909 crore for school education in the last fiscal year. In contrast, the coalition government has increased the allocation to ₹31,805 crore, emphasizing a result-oriented education system. The government is also taking steps to introduce advanced curriculum focusing on technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI).
For higher education, the government has made a strategic decision to prioritize innovation and research. A major highlight of this initiative is the establishment of the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub in Amaravati, which aims to equip students with future-ready skills and provide them with global opportunities. This innovation hub will also support startups by fostering new technological developments. It will be connected to five zonal centers across the state, playing a crucial role in skill development in emerging technologies.
With a strong commitment to global academic excellence, the government is working toward placing Andhra Pradesh universities among the world's top 100 institutions. To achieve this, a multidisciplinary education and research framework is being introduced, incorporating credit-based systems in polytechnic education, modern classrooms, advanced laboratories, and digital libraries. This vision is supported by a budget allocation of ₹2,506 crore for higher education and an additional ₹1,228 crore for skill development and training departments.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, the Andhra Pradesh government has also launched a Skill Census to assess the workforce capabilities of its citizens. To meet the evolving demands of industries, the government has already set up Skill Hubs across 83 government-run Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). Additionally, under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas program, four new industrial training institutes dedicated to Backward Classes (BC) students have been proposed in the state budget.
Overall, with these extensive reforms led by Minister Nara Lokesh, the government is positioning public education in Andhra Pradesh for a major transformation, aiming to align it with international standards.