Telangana government’s ambitious flagship programme “Mana Ooru Mana Badi ” would change the face of the government schools by providing permanent infrastructure including digital Infrastructure, extra classrooms, toilets, drinking water, compound walls and libraries benefitting lakhs of students in needy areas, eminent educationalist and Retired Principal and Secretary, WFTU (World Federation of Teachers Unions) M […]
Telangana government’s ambitious flagship programme “Mana Ooru Mana Badi ” would change the face of the government schools by providing permanent infrastructure including digital Infrastructure, extra classrooms, toilets, drinking water, compound walls and libraries benefitting lakhs of students in needy areas, eminent educationalist and Retired Principal and Secretary, WFTU (World Federation of Teachers Unions) M V Gona Reddy shared his opinion with Telangana Today. Excerpts from his interview:
Q: What is the condition of the government schools regarding infrastructure and facilities for the students?
Ans: Government schools in the State have been offering quality education to all, including the downtrodden sections and students from remote areas. Students’ strength and quality of results have improved gradually in public-funded education system with the measures adopted by K Chandrashekhar Rao’s government. The State government has been taking various measures in line with Sustainable Development Goals -2030 Agenda to provide ” inclusive & equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all “. As part of this, it is concentrating on strengthening infrastructural facilities.
Infrastructure plays a key role in imparting quality education to students. However, some of the schools in villages and remote areas are badly in need of physical infrastructure, digital infrastructure, extra classrooms, toilets with running water, compound walls, etc. Through ‘Mana Ooru Mana Badi’ State government has decided to provide necessary infrastructure benefitting 19.84 lakh students studying in 20,065 schools. In the first phase, 35 per cent of schools are selected under the scheme benefitting 65 per cent of total students. This will bring about a considerable improvement in the school education system.
Q: How introduction of the English medium in government schools would help poor students particularly in rural areas?
Ans: There is a greater demand for English medium from students and their parents keeping in view the importance of the English language and communication skills in the market. Responding to their demand, the government has already started introducing English Medium. Introducing English Medium will definitely help government schools and stop the migration of students to the private sector for want of English Medium. Today students have already outnumbered Telugu medium students. However, it needs infrastructure, qualified teachers and a library to run the English medium successfully. However, market demands are not consistent. That’s why Telugu medium should also continue with mother tongue as a compulsory subject for all as advised by UNESCO and various education commissions. The NEP 2020 also laid a lot of emphasis on instruction in mother tongue in school education. Also, there must be sufficient provision for promoting multi-linguism and the power of language.
Q: What measures are required to improve the quality of education in government schools?
Ans: Government educational institutions and government-funded grant-in-aid private institutions got to function as ideal and model centres of excellence in the education sector. To function successfully, these institutions require permanent qualified teachers, physical infrastructure, ICT (Information and Communication Technology), digital infrastructure, internet, uninterrupted power, computer labs, maintaining a hygienic atmosphere, premises should be clean and green and libraries, etc. Students need to learn and act to facilitate sustainable development. Q: How does setting up computer labs and libraries in all government schools help the students in improving knowledge and skills? Ans: In the present era of digitalisation students should have access to digital infrastructure, computer labs, libraries with network linkages to digital libraries such as NDLI, Internet Archives, World Digital Library, Khan Academy, Hathi Trust, Global Digital Library, Open Library to access innumerable books and multimedia content to improve their reading habit, knowledge and skills in any situation.
Q: How do ensure the best learning/teaching methods in government schools?
Ans: Government should focus on the empowerment of teachers regularly to ensure quality education. They have to learn and update their ICT skills regularly. Also, they are required to update their teaching methods from time to time and empower their students through the latest innovative teaching and learning techniques. All schools should develop an ecosystem enabling students to improve their knowledge and skills through online and offline modes. Learning should continue in any situation.
Q: Telangana State government has announced the “Mana Ooru Mana Badi” scheme in which over Rs 7,000 crore is to be spent. What works should be taken up on priority with the funds?
Ans: Telangana government’s ambitious flagship programme “Mana Ooru Mana Badi ” with a budget of Rs 7,289 crore is a progressive reform as it is going to provide permanent physical infrastructure including digital infrastructure, digital libraries (with the network), extra classrooms, toilets, drinking water, compound walls and libraries benefitting lakhs of students in needy areas.
Q: Any additional suggestions on the implementation of the “Mana Ooru Mana Badi” scheme?
Ans: See that learning continues even in the pandemic situation and help all students, especially hard-to-reach students in the present situation of learning crisis. Schools closure leads to peculiar problems among students. Therefore, let’s take all necessary steps to provide education in a healthy and safe atmosphere in all schools. Education and health should be given top priority to deal with any pandemic now and in the future. This demands regular funding for maintaining a hygienic, healthy and safe atmosphere in all institutions.
The public-funded education system plays a pivotal role in making education more holistic by recognising, promoting the unique capabilities of students, scientific temper, critical thinking, innovation and creativity through academic and non-academic activities. It aims at all-round development of students. For this purpose physical infrastructures as well as a digital infrastructure need to be developed drastically in all schools. The involvement of civil society helps schools develop infrastructure. Also taking the help of Alumni, NRIs, Philanthropists, and public representatives is very important. With their help, we can establish computer labs, digital libraries and necessary infrastructure and convert these schools into centres of excellence in remote villages. Resources of Alumni, NRIs, philanthropists, etc are not utilised to the maximum extent so far. Taking the opinion and involvement of teachers and their unions while framing policies and implementing schemes are important for effective implementation in the education department.
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