In a series of major decisions in its first cabinet meeting, the Andhra Pradesh government on Monday said all women who send their children to school will receive ₹15,000 from the state government from 26 January next year. Stating that all the government schools in Andhra Pradesh will be completely transformed in the next two years, chief minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy has said that financial assistance under Amma Vodi scheme will be extended to the parents who send their wards to schools. He said that they will disburse the assured Rs 15,000 annual financial assistance to the mother of school going child on January 26 as he wanted to see that every child go to school.
Speaking on this occasion,he urged the parents to send their children to schools for their development. He wished every child should become doctor or engineer or IAS officer. He said that he had personally seen the struggle of the parents in sending their wards to private schools by paying huge fees during his padayatra. “Many of the government schools are in a dilapidated condition to which parents might not prefer to send their children to pursue studies. At the same time, they are unable to afford mind boggling fees being collected by the corporate schools. I have decided to give financial assistance to reduce the burden on such poor parents,” said Jagan.
He, however, said that they would not leave the government schools in shoddy state as they were readying an action plan to revamp all the schools. He said that they would revolutionise the public education system in next two years. He said that there were about 40,000 government schools in the state and would change their fate in two years. “Send us pictures of the government schools. We will show you how it will be after two years,” asserted the CM.
He said that illiteracy rate in AP was at 33 per cent and it was almost seven per cent higher than the national average of 27 per cent. He said that poor infrastructure in the public schools, non-supply of text books, uniforms till September were also reason for the high illiteracy rate in the state. He said that many schools in the state do not even have proper toilets and drinking water for the children. He said that previous government had deliberately neglected the government schools only to promote the private schools and colleges.
He said there are 40,000 government schools in the state and added that English Medium classes should be started in the all the schools. He assured that he would improve infrastructure in the government schools besides providing infrastructure within two years. He expressed serious concern for 33% of the people in the state are illiterates.
