'Andhra Pradesh aims to achieve cent per cent literacy'

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Pic/Twitter IANS

On Thursday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said that the state is aiming to achieve 100 percent literacy in the next five years. Speaking on the eve of Teachers Day, Reddy said the government schools must be strengthened and the rate of enrolment must be improved.

Addressing a function to mark Teachers' Day in Vijayawada, the Chief Minister called for sweeping changes in the education system across the state. While addressing the teachers and officials, Reddy said, "While the national average illiteracy rate is 27 percent, our state stands at 33 percent which is not a good sign and with the government initiatives and your commitment we can bring down the rate to zero percent," reports news agency IANS.

The Chief Minister said that teachers play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the children as they lay a strong foundation on moral and ethical grounds. Reddy also spoke about how his government has started path-breaking schemes to improve the standard of education in the state. He also said that the goal can be achieved only with the active participation of teachers.

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'Amma Vodia', fees reimbursement and paying Rs 20,000 annually for hostel and mess charges were some of the initiatives that Reddy's government has initiated for the betterment of education across the state. Even though its the duty of the government to encourage enrolment, Reddy said that it is the teacher who has to mould the child as a responsible citizen.

The CM also promised to improve the infrastructure of government-run schools in the next three years. The government will also make a pictorial comparison for the public of the schools before and after the renovation.

"We have to go in for the active participation of parents in the child's education with periodic interaction with teachers besides converting all government schools into English medium schools which will draw the attention of more and more parents towards government schools," Reddy said.

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With inputs from IANS

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