VIJAYAWADA: Minister for HRD and IT Nara Lokesh has directed officials to ensure the speedy implementation of the Talliki Vandanam scheme, and provide financial assistance to every eligible student studying in government and private schools across the State.
Holding a review meeting with School Education Department officials at his Undavalli residence on Tuesday, Lokesh assessed the progress of several flagship education initiatives, including Talliki Vandanam, Badi Pilustondi, Shining Stars, Mega Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs), Yogandhra, and the conduct of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).
The HRD Minister sought details of student admissions in government schools, and instructed officials to take special measures to increase enrolment. Officials informed him that the Aadhaar verification process for mothers under the Talliki Vandanam scheme is nearing completion, and that all arrangements are being made to roll out the scheme by the third week of July.
The meeting also finalised plans to conduct the Shining Stars programme on June 29, and organise Mega PTMs in the third week of July. Rationalisation and deployment of surplus teachers to ensure optimal utilisation of teaching staff were also discussed.
Issue notifications for all 12 common entrance tests: Lokesh
At a separate review meeting of the Higher Education Department, Lokesh directed officials to issue notifications for all 12 common entrance tests, including AP EAPCET, and POLYCET, without delay and ensure admissions are completed within the stipulated timelines.
He stressed the need to align the State’s entrance test schedule with national-level tests and examinations conducted by neighbouring States to avoid inconvenience to students.
He also asked officials to examine the possibility of increasing seats in government engineering colleges and polytechnics. Officials informed him that there is a strong demand for mechanical and civil engineering courses in polytechnics.
Preparations are underway for the AP EAPCET notification for nearly 1.88 lakh seats across 254 government and private engineering colleges in the State.
Lokesh reviewed the progress of discussions with several reputed national and international institutions interested in establishing universities in the State. These include Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, James Cook University, University of Melbourne, Medhavi Skills University, and JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research. He also directed officials to expedite the establishment of the proposed GMR MANSAS Aviation University.
The HRD Minister expressed gratitude to the Centre for sanctioning an NCC State Directorate for Andhra Pradesh. The new directorate will help streamline NCC activities, training programmes, and camps across the State while providing greater opportunities for youth to receive military training and leadership development.
Principal Secretary (Education) J Shyamala Rao, Director of School Education Tameem Ansariya, Commissioner of Higher Education Narayana Bharat Gupta, Samagra Shiksha State Project Director B Srinivasa Rao, and other senior officials were present.
