AP mulls pre-primary classes in govt schools

Ongole: The Andhra Pradesh government is preparing guidelines for the introduction of pre-primary education (LKG and UKG) in government primary schools in the state from the next academic year.

AP government’s move in pursuance of the Centre’s decision to provide holistic quality education from LKG by introducing an integrated scheme - Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan -  by upgrading Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Teachers’ Education. The union government has already sent a set of guidelines to all states explaining as to how they should go about it.

As the Central government is bearing a major share of the expenditure on education in the state through SSA and RMSA, the Andhra Pradesh government has also agreed to implement the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan from 2018-19 along with the other states. 

As the time is fast approaching for commencement of the academic year, the officials have decided to introduce the kindergarten education in the primary schools now.  According to MV Krishna Reddy, joint director in education department, the school education department will introduce the preprimary education in the government schools.

He said that the preprimary education will be made part of the school education system under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. “We have prepared an organogram and sent it to the government for approval,” he said.  

Teachers MLC Vithapu Balasubrahmanyam said that the surveys conducted by National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration, Niti Ayog and others point to the fact that the children who learn to read and write in kindergarten level are active in school later and therefore they want preprimary education be provided in government schools.

By Naresh Nandam​