Declaring open the first model school in the State at Thegada in Kasimkota mandal here on Monday, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy announced that in the second phase, 400 more schools would be taken up.
Addressing students and parents, the Chief Minister said though 355 schools were planned in the first phase, this year, buildings for only 300 could be completed in spite of working at a hectic pace. “Of them, this is the first school that has been inaugurated thus becoming the first model school in the entire State,” Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy declared.
He simultaneously inaugurated four other model schools in the district in Narsipatnam, Ravikamatam, Cheedikada and Munagapaka mandals. Appointment letters have already been given to 3,200 teachers and headmasters, he said.
The centrally-funded schools are being taken up in view of globalisation and a perception among parents that to meet the growing competition, their children must get educated in English medium schools. But owing to the expenses involved, they were not able to do so.
To bring about a change and meet the expectations of parents, model schools are being opened, the Chief Minister said. It will give a big opportunity to students from SC/ST/minorities to pursue studies in English medium, he said.
He hoped the schools would set an example for the entire country and would enable students to face global competition.
Secondary Education Minister K. Parthasaradhi said the day should be written in golden letters for opening model schools. Corporate schools have divided students into rich and poor and the 300 model schools are being set up to bridge the divide, he said.
The schools with the best of selection process, academic standards and infrastructure can bring about great changes in schooling.
Minister for Investment and Infrastructure Ganta Srinivasa Rao said the Chief Minister had sanctioned a compound wall for the school.
