Guntur: Government mulls pre-schools from this academic year

Guntur: The State government began the exercise to start pre-schools in the government primary schools to teach basics to the students for the first time in the country from the academic year 2020-21 to improve education standards. Following instructions of the government, the Education Department officials are preparing a Detailed Project Report and they will submit it to the Project Approval Board, Union Ministry of Human Resources Development, Delhi to get necessary funds.

According to official sources, as a part of reforms in the school education, the State government is planning to start pre-schools at government schools.

Bringing about reforms in education, the government is converting the existing Telugu medium classes in government schools into English Medium from classes 1 to 6 from the academic year 2020-21 and introduced Mana Badi-Naadu Nedu programme to improve infrastructure in government schools.

Minister for Education Audimulapu Suresh has already informed the officials about the proposal to start pre-schools in the government primary schools. The government is improving necessary infrastructure in the government schools and developing the labs and providing necessary facilities to attract the students.The government is of the view that if children are admitted in the pre-school they will continue studies in the school from the first class.

Parents representing poorer sections need to pay Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 annual fee to send their children to preschool in private schools. English letters and poems are taught to children and they will be encouraged to play games. In addition to this, parents are spending Rs 1,000 to 1,200 per month towards rickshaw charges. If the government starts pre-schools, children admitted in the pre-schools, will join in the first class in the government primary schools. As a result, admissions will increase in the government schools. Parents from poorer sections will save the fee amount.

Minister for Education Audimulapu Suresh said, "It will take some time to translate this proposal into action. This exercise to start pre-schools is going on." Regional Joint Director of School Education, Guntur region, K Ravindranath Reddy said, "The officials are sending the proposal to Project Approval Board in the MHRD, Delhi, for funds."

Municipal Teachers Federation State President S Rama Krishna said, "The students securing admission into the pre-schools will easily pick up English language. They will excel in studies. I welcome the move of the government to start pre-schools."