Regarding tuition reimbursement, Lokesh stated that the first installment of Rs.788 crore has been released, with Rs.571.96 crore already disbursed and the remaining Rs.216.04 crore to be released within a few days

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Andhra Pradesh’s Minister for Education, IT, and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, has urged engineering college managements to focus on improving educational standards. During a meeting at his Undavalli residence with representatives from the Engineering Colleges Management Association, various issues concerning technical education were discussed.

Lokesh criticized the previous administration for neglecting the education sector, asserting that reforms must begin at the foundational level. He noted that no significant reforms had been introduced in Intermediate education over the past decade, and since taking charge as HRD Minister, he has initiated substantial changes.

The Minister highlighted that introducing ethical values in education is a core objective. He assured that any shortcomings in implementing reforms would be rectified and reaffirmed that policy decisions in his government would always be made through consultation and discussions, rather than unilateral actions.

Regarding tuition reimbursement, Lokesh stated that the first installment of Rs.788 crore has been released, with Rs.571.96 crore already disbursed and the remaining Rs.216.04 crore to be released within a few days.

Lokesh urged engineering colleges to improve their NIRF rankings, research & development, and innovation initiatives. He directed institutions to regularly update the government on placement statistics through online portals. A workshop is planned post-MLC elections to gather stakeholder feedback on enhancing the quality of engineering education.

During the meeting, representatives requested the government to release fee reimbursement funds on a fixed schedule to avoid financial strain on institutions. They also appealed for revision of existing fee structures, arguing that current rates are unsustainable. Additionally, they urged the government to follow a strict calendar for EAMCET schedules and ensure three rounds of counseling, and also facilitate job placements by organizing state-level job fairs and inviting companies to university campuses.