Andhra govt instructs 'gov schools to be converted to English' next yr

Acting on Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy's 'Naadu-Nedu'(then and now) programme, the state government has issued a direction to the Commissioner of School education to convert schools into English medium, according to ANI. As per the 'Naadu-Nedu' programme, all Mandal Parishad Primary School (MPP) and Zilla Parishad schools and government schools will be covered under the scheme. Classes 1-8 will be converted into English medium from the academic year 2020-2021 while classes 9 and 10 will be converted from the academic year 2021-2022, under the scheme.

READ | Sand scarcity in Andhra: Jana Sena Party to march against State Govt

YSRCP govt orders: 'Convert all govt schools to English medium'  

The state government has directed the Commissioner to take appropriate efforts to implement Telugu/Urdu as a compulsory subject as per the current medium of instruction, according to ANI. The government is reportedly planning to train 70,000 teachers in English medium before the change in instruction medium kicks in. The District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) has been tasked with the programme by the CM, as per reports.

READ | Jagan cancels his govt order changing 'Dr. APJ' Student Award To 'YSR'

What is the Naadu Nedu program?

As per reports, the Naadu Nedu programme spearheaded by CM Jagan Mohan Reddy, will be launched on November 14 - Children's Day. Under the scheme, the government has reportedly allocated Rs. 6000 crores for the next four years to revolutionise the education sector. The programme aims at modernising all public schools by improving the basic amenities in schools.

Reddy aims at taking up 15000 schools in the first phase of the programme which will be completed by March 2020. In the next phase, the remaining 40,000 will be improved. Reports also state that the YSRCP government aims in ensuring that every Mandal has one junior college and upgrading existing high schools to junior colleges wherever possible.

READ | Big Blow: CM Jagan Mohan Reddy to appear in CBI court every Friday

TDP govt's previous attempts

Previously, former CM Chandrababu Naidu too had issued a government order to convert schools into English medium. Reports state that the TDP government believed that this would help students fare better in competitive exams and also to prepare them for the IT sector. But this move reportedly failed after facing resistance from different parties including associations of teachers. 

READ | "Jagan Mohan Reddy's 'Rythu Bharosa' is a PR exercise for Centre"