Vijayawada: HRD minister Nara Lokesh will formally launch the midday meal scheme for intermediate students at the Payakapuram govt junior college in Vijayawada city on Saturday. The state cabinet recently cleared the proposal to relaunch the midday meal for intermediate students, which was stopped by the previous YSRCP regime.
The initiative will benefit about 1,48,419 students studying in 475 govt junior colleges across the state besides helping in reducing the dropout rate. While 398 out of 475 junior colleges are affiliated to high schools where central kitchens are already available, exclusive kitchens will be constructed in the remaining 77 colleges.
The govt has spared Rs 27.39 crore for implementation of the scheme during the current academic year and Rs 85.84 crore for the next academic year.
Lokesh has set his focus on capacity building of children studying in govt educational institutions.
The govt has distributed free textbooks, notebooks, and school bags to over two lakh intermediate students studying in govt junior colleges, AP model schools, Kasturba Gandhi Vidyalayas, high school plus schools in the state.
“We have also set up academic guidance and monitoring cells at the district and regional level to improve the teaching process. Vidyashakti pilot project is being implemented in 25 govt junior colleges in Chittoor district and four colleges in Guntur district in collaboration with IIT Madras as the minister is very particular about improving the ability of students in maths, physics, chemistry and english subjects,” said a senior education dept official. He said students are being taught skills in their respective subjects through zoom meetings with expert teachers trained by IIT Madras every day from 4 to 5 pm.
The school education dept has also started regular parent-teacher meetings where students’ progress cards are handed over to the parents. Students’ performance, homework, and absence details are also communicated through WhatsApp groups to parents on a daily basis.
