Municipal schools are not best known for the quality of learning they impart. In order to spur them into action, the Andhra Pradesh government plans to trigger a healthy competition among them by giving accreditation to top ranking schools after assessing their performance based on a set of parameters designed by the education wing of the Department of Municipal Administration.
The assessment and grading of the schools will be similar to what NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) does for colleges.
“Swachh Vidyalaya, average attendance of students and teachers, co-curricular activities, involvement of the managements in school activities and performance of the children will be some of the parameters considered for issue of the certificate,” said D. Chitti Babu, consultant for the education wing.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is keen on strengthening the school education system by introducing a series of reforms, has asked the authorities concerned to put the new system in place by the end of 2017-18 academic year.
After assessing the key aspects, grades would be awarded and top ranking schools would be given certificates, said the official, explaining that this kind of a healthy competition would in turn improve the schools’ performance.
The school management committees are expected to groom their institutions into schools of excellence.
In a recent meeting the Chief Minister had with the Municipal Commissioners and academic coordinators, he made it clear that the officials must initiate every possible step to ensure all-round development of students.
Motivation
Education is a complex subject and the State is determined to improve this sector through reformative measures. Identifying motivation to students at this young age as a key area for better performance, it has asked school managements to conduct motivational programmes by roping in personalities who have inspiring stories to share and local community leaders as frequently as possible.
Schools that do not have a playground of their own should be given access to a nearby open ground for students to play and unwind. The school managements are also expected to take up tree plantation activity with the support of social forestry or forest department for procuring saplings. Focus should be on flower and fruit-bearing plants and medicinal plants like neem and other shade-providing ones.
Evaluation
Special tests being conducted for students of class 10 is yet another step to prepare them to face the public exams with confidence. The government is particular that the subject teachers do not evaluate the answer sheets but a special team of teachers should verify the whole exercise.
