Focus on learning outcomes, says Lokesh

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Andhra Pradesh Education Minister Nara Lokesh has directed education officials to shift their focus from implementing reforms to improving academic outcomes, stressing that the next phase of the state’s education agenda should be measured by students’ performance.

During a surprise inspection of the Zilla Parishad High School at Punadipadu in Kankipadu mandal of Krishna district on Monday, the minister reviewed infrastructure, classroom teaching and learning standards. Interacting with Class 10 students, he urged them to work towards better results, noting that the school’s pass percentage in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination last year stood at 67%, which was 11 percentage points below the state average.

Lokesh encouraged students to outperform their seniors, describing Class 10 and Intermediate as crucial stages that shape future academic and career prospects. He also interacted with students on the quality of the midday meal and the distribution of the Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyarthi Mitra Kit. Students expressed satisfaction with the meals, and the minister said the government was supplying fine-quality rice under the midday meal programme.

While appreciating the school’s infrastructure, which received a rating of 2.76, Lokesh expressed concern over its learning outcomes rating of 0.9, calling it unacceptable for a school located near an urban centre. He instructed officials and teachers to pay special attention to academically weak students and warned that unauthorised absenteeism by teachers would not be tolerated.

The minister emphasised that both infrastructure and quality teaching were essential for improving educational standards. He also called for strengthening vocational laboratories in junior colleges.