Taking decisive steps toward transforming the state’s education system, Minister for Education and IT, Nara Lokesh, convened an intensive high-level review meeting with senior officials at his residence in Undavalli. The meeting lasted over three hours and focused on strengthening all aspects of education—from school to higher education.
Lokesh directed officials to make comprehensive arrangements for the upcoming Mega DSC examinations, set to commence on June 6. He stressed the importance of flawless execution, instructing that all TCS iON centres and exam venues be fully equipped with functional computers and infrastructure. He also emphasized the need to avoid any technical glitches at the candidate support call centres.
Addressing eligibility concerns, the minister clarified, “TET qualification remains applicable for DSC, and we have facilitated an option for candidates to upload their certificates, which can be verified during the document verification stage.”
While reviewing the recent 10th standard examination results, Lokesh urged officials to prioritize academic performance improvement for the next academic year. He revealed that a revised alternative to Government Order 117, which earlier proposed a ‘one teacher per class’ model, has been drafted based on feedback from teacher associations. He also instructed that top-performing 10th-grade students be honored under the ‘Shining Stars’ initiative.
On the matter of teacher transfers, he insisted on utmost transparency and directed that the process be completed before the new academic year begins, as per the Teacher Transfer Act. He also called for awareness campaigns under the ‘Badi Eedu’ program to boost school enrollments and instructed timely distribution of textbooks and Vidya Mitra kits.
In higher education, Lokesh ordered swift preparation of guidelines to restart the Ambedkar Overseas Education Scheme, previously discontinued by the former government. He also announced that the 'Kalalaki Rekkalu' scheme, aimed at supporting female students in higher education, would be launched this academic year.
The review also addressed issues related to admissions, faculty shortages, and academic performance in government degree colleges. Lokesh suggested involving stakeholders in the design of a new academic structure that includes options for three-major and single-major subjects. He also set a target for at least two state universities to break into the QS Top-100 global rankings through improved academic standards.
Additionally, the minister approved the modernization of 205 government libraries across the state to better serve unemployed youth and the general public. He also cleared the transfer of lecturers in government junior colleges.
Senior officials present included Principal Secretary for Education Kona Sasidhar, Director of Collegiate Education Narayana Bharat Gupta, Director of Intermediate Education Krithika Shukla, and Commissioner of School Education Vijaya Rama Raju.
