Visakhapatnam: Government schools to match up to corporate educational institutions

Visakhapatnam: Ambience plays a key role to draw students to schools. This academic year, many look forward to attending classes as government schools to match up to the corporate schools in appearance.

With 40 per cent of works pertaining to 'Mana Badi – Naadu-Nedu' inching closer to completion, education officials say that 1,149 government schools to be readied in the first phase of the flagship programme.

In Visakhapatnam district, there are about 4,024 state-run schools which will be developed in three phases.

The development works will be carried out based on nine parameters such as furniture for students and the staff, electricity and drinking water supply, functional toilets, green chalk boards, additional classrooms and compound walls along with taking up minor and major repair works.

In the month of April, three schools have been identified as demo schools. They include, ZP High School, Gidijala, Primary School at Munagapaka and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, Madugula.

"We have received instructions to use branded taps, tiles, paint and other raw material for the development works. 95 per cent of works related to demo schools have been completed," explains E Pydiraju, ZP High School, Gidijala Headmaster.

The renovation works are being monitored by Andhra Pradesh Samagra Shiksha, Tribal Welfare Department and Andhra Pradesh Education Welfare Infrastructure Development Corporation, the Education Department.

In addition, some of the industries are also chipping in to renovate the existing schools. Close to 58 schools at Parawada, Rambilli and Atchutapuram mandals will be developed incorporating corporate social responsibility funds contributed by various industries.

Since environment essays a significant part in pursuing studies, education department officials say that work related to Mana Badi Naadu-Nedu has been accelerated.

"The target is to complete the arrangements of the first phase of the project by July end. Attention has been paid to every minute detail, including infrastructure and adequate running and drinking water," says B Lingeswara Reddy, District Educational Officer.

With arch, footpath, colourful tiles, washrooms, flooring and lighting being wrapped up in demo schools, students say that they are curious to start afresh amid the new environment.