The cluster schools proposed by the Andhra Pradesh Government will be established with all facilities on an experimental basis and not with an intention to close the existing government schools, said Human Resources Development Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao.
Cluster schools were conceived in line with the Government’s objective to develop the State into a knowledge society and hub. Cluster schools with all infrastructure facilities, quality faculty, science and computer labs, will come up in each mandal and transport facility provided to ferry children upto a distance of 8 km, he said during Question Hour in the Assembly on Friday.
Y.S. Jagan's objection
Leader of Opposition Y.S.Jaganmohan Reddy said that so far the policy was to open schools closer to homes for the convenience of children. If transport facility was not available for some reason, it would only push up the drop-out rate defeating the very objective of Right to Education.
He said that the Government should first focus on upgrading facilities in all the existing schools. When model schools were already functioning, where was the need for cluster schools, he wondered.
The YSRC members Srikanth Reddy, and G.Eswari said that there were concerns that cluster schools would result in closing down of schools in remote areas and it also created insecurity among teachers.
The HRD Minister clarified that by next academic year, Government schools would be provided with all facilities and rationalisation of teachers would be done to provide teachers to all schools for an ideal teacher-student ratio, he added.
Recruitment Board for University teachers
Replying to another question about vacant posts in Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, he said that the Government only sanctions posts and it was for the respective Vice-Chancellors to fill them. He said that the Government was contemplating a Recruitment Board for recruitment of quality faculty in universities on the lines of APPSC.
