Vijayawada: In a major step to strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s education sector, Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav has announced a substantial allocation of Rs 29,909 crore for the School Education Department for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The budget also includes funding for the Super Six guarantee–Thalliki Vandanam scheme, aimed at providing financial assistance to mothers of children studying in both government and private schools from Class I to XII. A total of Rs 5,387.02 crore has been allocated under SC, ST, BC, and Minority components to reduce dropout rates and address financial barriers to education.
Keshav emphasized the government’s commitment to comprehensive reforms to improve school infrastructure and enhance student learning outcomes. One of the major priorities of the administration is the Mega DSC recruitment drive, which will fill 16,347 vacant teacher positions. This initiative is expected to inject fresh energy and expertise into the educational workforce. In a move to reduce the administrative burdens on teachers, the government has also cut down on app-based requirements, allowing educators to focus more on teaching.
Additionally, in the higher education sector, an extra Rs 2,326 crore has been allocated for the 2024-25 fiscal year. As part of the Swarna Andhra @ 2047 vision, the state government aims to strengthen state universities and establish ‘knowledge cities’ in Amaravati, Tirupati, and Visakhapatnam. The government also plans to launch faculty development programs to train 18,000 faculty members over the next three years to enhance educational quality.
Despite the positive reception of these budget allocations, there are concerns about the adequacy of funding and transparency. S Narahari, President of the Parents’ Association of Andhra Pradesh, pointed out that while the previous government allocated Rs 6,500 crore for Ammavodi, the current government’s promise of Rs 15,000 per student under Thalliki Vandanam requires nearly Rs 11,000 crore. However, only Rs 5,387.02 crore has been allocated. Similarly, Sulluru Yachendra, State President of the ABVP Students’ Union, called for increased education sector funding in line with recommendations from the Kothari Commission.
