Ongole: Government will take no chances on safety, says Minister Audimulapu Suresh

Ongole: Education minister Audimulapu Suresh said that they were ready to change and increase the examination halls for smooth conduct of SSC examinations beginning from July 10.

Speaking to The Hans India on Friday, the minister announced that education will be top priority to the state government and all steps would be taken to make sure that the staff and children would be safe environment in schools.

The minister informed that they were not taking any chance to put in risk the lives of students and school staff in the name of SSC exams.

He affirmed that the government was designing an ad hoc contingency plan to conduct the public exams. Under the plan, he explained that they had increased the number of examination centres by 44 per cent from 2,900 to 4,400, would provide thermal scanner and sanitiser at the entrance of examination hall, mask to each student, masks and gloves to invigilators and other supporting staff.

Suresh said an isolation room with medical facilities would also be provided in each examination centre to make sure that the students are protected from infection. If any examination centre falls under the containment zone by the time of exams, it would be shifted to other nearest safe location.

Due to 15-plus direct benefit schemes introduced by the YSRCP government, he said everyone in the 4 crore people are related to beneficiaries by one or the other way.

Stating that the government had allocated Rs 33,000 crore for education in 2019-20, he said as part of the Jagananna Vidya Kanuka programme to be launched on August 3, the students in government schools would get a kit worth Rs 1,600 that consists of a school bag, three pairs of uniform, textbooks, notebooks, shoes, two pairs of socks, and a belt.

Stating the first phase of Mana Badi Naadu-Nedu programme would be complete by July-end in 15,715 schools, he said infrastructure like compound walls, toilets, fans, green boards, furniture, tube lights would be provided in them.

Suresh said the government was trying to do maximum justice to DSC 2008 candidates, who didn't get a job then. As the candidates submitted consenting letters to the government to work as contract teachers, they would be offered a job following the roster system.

He announced good news would be revealed to candidates very soon and stated the Chief Minister would take a decision soon on the regularisation of contract employees once the Group of Minsters submits its recommendations to him.