Minister for IT and Human Resources Development N. Lokesh has lambasted the former Chief Minister, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, for “ruining the public education system” in the State.

Responding to the “dismal” Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) - 2024, released on Tuesday (January 28, 2025), Mr. Lokesh said in a post on X that the report had clearly proven that while huge sums of money had been spent on publicity, no significant steps were taken to improve the educational standards.

Jagan calls Lokesh’s claim of 82.1% literacy in Andhra false, cites Centre’s survey showing 71.4%

The ASER-2024 study found that only 56% of Class 8 students could read a Class 2-level Telugu text in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It also revealed significant learning gaps among the students in rural schools of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, mirroring a national trend of poor literacy and numeracy skills.

Mr. Lokesh said under the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) rule, arbitrarily issued G.O.s led to closure of several schools. There was a decline in the educational standards and schools were found to be lacking in basic facilities like drinking water and toilets. There was a drastic fall in student attendance rates in schools and teachers’ issues were completely neglected, he added.

The Minister said during the TDP’s earlier tenure, public schools were far better in terms of educational standards, attendance, infrastructure and encouragement to students towards sports and extra-curricular activities. Mr. Lokesh said in the last seven months, he had taken several measures to strengthen the public education system.

Focus is on A.P. Model

He said the focus was on collecting accurate data on the number of students studying in government schools, designing curriculum that aligned with the emerging needs, providing value-based education and guidance to encourage students in sports and other areas, resolving teachers’ issues and to provide basic infrastructure in schools.

Mr. Lokesh said the government intended to introduce Andhra Pradesh Model of School Education by bringing radical changes in the public education system. “We will seek feedback from the public and education experts on this new model,” he said.