AP to develop 175 Leap Schools in each assembly

Metro India News | AMARAVATI : Andhra Pradesh Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh has set a series of infrastructure targets for government schools, directing officials to upgrade all one-star schools to two-star standards within a year and ensure that schools with zero-star ratings reach at least one-star level by the end of the current academic year. During a high-level review meeting on school infrastructure and skill development at his residence in Undavalli on Monday, Lokesh said all government schools should be developed to four-star standards by 2029, while at least 1,000 schools should achieve five-star status.

He called for special attention to schools in agency and backward areas and directed officials to prepare an action plan to develop 175 “LEAP schools”, one in each Assembly constituency. Officials informed the Minister that the State currently has 1,685 one-star, 15,618 two-star, 19,099 three-star and 7,172 four-star schools. Lokesh directed that District Education Officers, Mandal Education Officers and Cluster Resource Persons be made accountable for monitoring infrastructure improvements and achieving the prescribed targets within the deadlines.

He also called for focused efforts to establish fully equipped computer and Atal Tinkering Labs in 7,000 high schools across the State. With academic reforms having been completed, Lokesh said the focus of officials and teachers should now shift to improving learning outcomes and ensuring that infrastructure improvements translated into better educational performance. Lokesh directed officials to make effective use of Central government schemes to expand skill training among students. The State has set a target of providing skill training to five lakh students this year under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).

He also asked officials to encourage students to make use of the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme and National Apprenticeship Scheme to gain practical exposure and improve their employability. The Minister directed officials to bring unemployed youth under the “Naipunya” skills portal and use artificial intelligence-based interviews to assess and connect candidates with employment opportunities.

He further asked SEEDAP and APSSDC-linked skill initiatives to provide training in foreign languages such as German and Japanese, with the aim of improving access to overseas employment opportunities.