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Government to form a body to take up construction of buildings for all its schools, colleges

Minister unveils Rs. 5,320-crore plan to improve the 651 residential schools

Student strength in each school to be increased to 1,120 from the present 441

HYDERABAD: The Government has decided to form a separate body, Andhra Pradesh Educational Infrastructure Development Corporation, to take up construction of buildings for all its schools and colleges in the State that lack accommodation.

The administrative structure for the new outfit, which will be run on the lines of the AP Health Medical Housing & Infrastructure Development Corporation, will be decided by the Cabinet at its next meeting.

Announcing this at a press conference here on Saturday after Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy reviewed these matters, School Education Minister C. Damodar Rajanarsimha said the corporation would cover all the 651 residential schools run for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, and institutions coming under the purview of the School and Higher education departments and Sarva Siksha Abhiyan.

The Minister also unveiled a Rs. 5,320-crore plan to improve the 651 residential schools by bringing them under one umbrella to ensure better coordination and uniformity in standards. A society would be formed for this purpose.

Under the plan, the student strength in each school would be increased to 1,120 from the present 441.
CBSE syllabus

The schools, each on an extent of 15 acres and equipped with all facilities, would have classes VI to XII from the next academic year, all covered by CBSE syllabus and English medium.

The aim was to serve the rural student better and improve his employment opportunities. However, English medium would be introduced only for the first batch of Class VI.
Funds

The funds for the project would not be a problem as the burden would be spread over five years. To start with, Rs. 400 crore available in this year’s budget would be used. A sum of Rs. 600 crore would be provided in the next year’s budget and Rs. 1,000 crore each during the four years thereafter.

If necessary, external agencies like World Bank, Asian Development Bank DFID would be approached.

Mr. Rajanarsimha said it was also decided to enhance the daily diet charges for the residential schools to from Rs. 13 to Rs. 17.33 a student.