Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Education Minister Nara Lokesh paid rich tributes to teachers on the occasion of Teachers’ Day, recalling their own experiences with education and stressing the importance of strengthening government schools in Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking at a program in Vijayawada, the Chief Minister said Teachers’ Day is not just a celebration but a reminder of the pivotal role educators play in shaping the future. “In India’s history, after parents, the most revered are teachers. We may forget many people in life, but never those who taught us,” he said. Recalling his own schooldays, Naidu remembered his teacher Bhaktavatsalam and hailed educators as the only people capable of bringing out a child’s hidden potential.

He also drew inspiration from Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, describing him as a model teacher who rose from a school in Renigunta to become the President of India. “That is why we celebrate Teachers’ Day in his name,” he added.

The Chief Minister also reflected on his efforts to improve higher education access during his earlier tenure. He said that under his leadership, admissions of Andhra Pradesh students into IITs increased significantly, with coaching initiatives and reforms inspired by eminent educationist Chukka Ramaiah. “At one stage, even BITS Pilani was surprised by the number of AP students securing admissions,” he said.

Turning personal, Naidu acknowledged his wife Bhuvaneswari for playing a key role in shaping Lokesh’s education. “I only ensured he received proper guidance when needed, but the credit goes to her. Lokesh earned his place on merit, worked at the World Bank, in Singapore’s Prime Minister’s Office, and studied at Stanford,” he noted.

Education Minister Nara Lokesh began his address by calling his father “the teacher of my life.” Recalling his student days, he admitted he was once a backbencher, but rose to Stanford University with the support of his teachers and family. “Some subjects were a challenge for me. My father ensured I got special training from Narayana and later, under the guidance of Raj Reddy, I pursued further studies,” Lokesh said.

Highlighting government initiatives, the Minister said his department has introduced reforms such as No Bag Saturdays, One Class–One Teacher model, and transparent teacher transfers through the Teacher Transfer Act. He stressed that government education was being depoliticized. “Even on school boards and textbooks, we have avoided displaying political leaders’ photographs,” he said. Lokesh also pointed to the historic recruitment of teachers under Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership. 

“DSC means Chandrababu, and Chandrababu means DSC. Through 13 DSCs, nearly 1.8 lakh teachers were recruited. Today, around 80% of our current teachers were appointed during his tenure,” he said, adding that the recent Mega DSC recruitment was conducted smoothly under the Chief Minister’s direction despite legal hurdles.

Both leaders emphasized that the future of the state depended on the quality of education. “If teachers guide children in the right way, they never need to look back,” said Naidu, while Lokesh added, “Government school education should set the standard for the nation. If Delhi has been the model until now, soon the country will look towards Andhra Pradesh.”