VIJAYAWADA: Plans are on the anvil to bring the Intermediate education under the department of school education from the next academic year. However, officials concerned said only the administrative wing of Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate Education would be merged with the school education department.
The move means that only the commissionerate of Intermediate education board will be absorbed by the school education department. The academic wing of the board would remain unaffected, which conducts examinations.
Speaking to TNIE, Principal Secretary of Higher Education Adityanath Das, said: “We are working on the proposal. As of now, our Intermediate board is well reputed and one of the best in the country. As such, we do not want it to get affected, which is why we proposed for merger of only the administrative wing. The move will be beneficial to model schools and KGBVs(Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas), which have started to provide Intermediate education.”
Student organisations and educationists are welcoming the move, but expressed concerns over maintenance of junior colleges by the school education department.
“More than 60,000 schools in the State, under the department, are being poorly maintained. The officials are unable to manage the existing schools and fulfil requirements of students and faculties. Now, looking after institutions offering Intermediate courses may become an additional burden on the department,” said former MLC K Lakshman Rao.
Presently, Intermediate education is under the Higher Education Department and the State follows a three-tier education system.
Recently, CM N Chandrababu Naidu gave nod to a long-time pending proposal to incorporate Intermediate education with the school education department.