Schools in Andhra Pradesh to reopen from 16 August, as COVID-19 numbers show decline

Amaravati: Schools in Andhra Pradesh will open for the 2021-22 academic year on 16 August, the state government announced on Friday. The decision to reopen schools, delayed due to the ongoing COVID-19 second wave, was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. A CMO release said the government would also come out with detailed guidelines on 16 August on the implementation of the New Education Policy-2020. The Chief Minister would dedicate to people the government schools refurbished under the first phase of Naadu-Nedu programme and also launch the second phase works on 16 August. Classification of schools into six categories from PP-1 to Class 12 would be undertaken as per the NEP-2020. The existing Anganwadis would be converted into satellite foundation schools, covering each habitation, the CMO release said. The Chief Minister directed the Education Department officials to clearly spell out to all concerned why they were shifting to the NEP-2020. “Create wide awareness, particularly among parents, on the benefits of NEP-2020. There should be no scope for any doubts or apprehensions,” Jagan Mohan Reddy said. He said the state government would spend Rs 16,000 crore for implementing the NEP-2020. This would rejuvenate the education system, he added. The government also decided to award marks to Class X students, who were declared to have passed in 2020 and 2021, as final examinations could not be conducted due to the coronavirus outbreak. While 70 percent weightage would be given to slip tests, 30 percent would be for formative assessment for awarding the final marks. Grades would be awarded as per the marks, the School Education Department officials told the Chief Minister.