The state spent Rs.953.71 crore on the kits, Rs.175.03 crore from the Centre and Rs.778.68 crore from the state government. Each kit is valued at Rs.2,279

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

In a remarkable transformation that is drawing total attention, students of Andhra Pradesh’s government schools are turning heads with their smart new look—thanks to the ‘Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyarthi Mitra’ kits, rolled out at the very start of the academic year. Education Minister Nara Lokesh’s reforms are not only rebranding public education but also infusing pride, quality, and aspiration among millions of children.

“Government school kids look smarter and more confident than those in corporate schools now,” said N.Ventaka Ramana, headmaster in NTR district, observing the joy and enthusiasm among students. “We’ve never seen this level of energy and uniformity before.”

The initiative, aimed at reviving trust in public education, has become a model for other states. From stylish uniforms to Oxford dictionaries, the kits offer everything a student needs—delivered before the academic year began, and without political colors or leaders’ photos.

The kit, named after Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the philosopher-president and a symbol of academic integrity, contains, 3 sets of uniforms, one pair of shoes and 2 pairs of socks, school bag, belt, textbooks, workbooks, and notebooks, and Oxford Pictorial Dictionaries for Class 1 and English-English-Telugu Oxford Dictionaries for Class 6, with versions in Tamil, Odia, and Urdu for minor-medium students. So far, the kits have been distributed to 35.94 lakh students from Class 1 to 10 across government and aided schools this year.

The state spent Rs.953.71 crore on the kits, Rs.175.03 crore from the Centre and Rs.778.68 crore from the state government. Each kit is valued at Rs.2,279. Notably, transparent e-procurement and competitive bidding led to savings of Rs.63.80 crore when compared to the previous government’s supply deals.

“Not a single rupee of corruption will be tolerated in the education sector,” said Minister Nara Lokesh, emphasizing that every decision, from cloth quality to dictionary content, went through a rigorous review process.

To ensure excellence, the government partnered with the Quality Council of India (QCI)—a first in state education procurement. Every item went through three stages of quality checks, right from raw material inspection, mid-production testing to final inspection before dispatch. Additionally, ‘Quality Walls’ have been set up at each mandal stock point to display kit samples and assure parents about the standard of items.

This year, the uniform features dyed woven cloth—an upgrade from previous printed fabrics. The olive green pant/skirt and striped light yellow-green shirt create a clean and vibrant look. Teachers note that these kits have made students “proud to wear their uniforms.” “We feel happy to wear our new bags and shoes. Everything fits perfectly, and the books look beautiful,” said Nadimpally Saketh, class 7 student from AKTP Municipal High School in Vijayawada.

For the first time, students studying in minor-medium languages are receiving Oxford dictionaries in English-English-Tamil, English-English-Odia, and English-English-Urdu, apart from the standard Telugu version. This is expected to bridge the language learning gap and enhance vocabulary for regional students. Minister Lokesh, who took charge of the education portfolio amid high expectations, has promised to restore Andhra Pradesh’s reputation as a national leader in education.

“This is only the beginning,” Lokesh said during a recent review. “Every child in a government school deserves the same dignity, quality, and opportunities as any private school student. That’s not a dream—it’s a policy.” With the SRK Vidyarthi Mitra kits now in full swing, government schools across Andhra Pradesh are witnessing a festive atmosphere.