Nara Lokesh Fails, Education System in AP is in Crisis - Watch Video

Tadepalli, March 14: The education sector in Andhra Pradesh is facing a severe decline under the coalition government, with Education Minister Nara Lokesh failing to provide effective leadership, alleged former Minister and YSRCP leader Merugu Nagarjuna.

Addressing the media at the YSRCP central office, Nagarjuna accused the TDP-led administration of neglecting the education system and dismantling the progressive reforms introduced during the tenure of former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. He claimed that key initiatives such as English medium schools, bilingual textbooks, IB and CBSE curriculum integration, digital classrooms, TOEFL training, and tablet distribution for students are being systematically scrapped, leaving the sector in turmoil.

Nagarjuna further criticized the government for failing to allocate sufficient funds for fee reimbursement and the Amma Vodi scheme, thereby hurting students from economically weaker backgrounds. He also condemned the alleged coercion of Vice-Chancellors into resigning to facilitate political appointments. According to him, under Jagan’s leadership, Andhra Pradesh’s universities gained national recognition, secured NAAC A++ accreditation, and saw an improvement in the Gross Enrollment Ratio. However, he argued that the current administration is prioritizing political agendas over educational development, reversing the progress made in higher education.

Responding to TDP leaders’ allegations that the previous government engaged in excessive publicity through photographs, Nagarjuna pointed out that it was Chandrababu Naidu who had originally turned government welfare schemes into personal branding exercises. He remarked that everything from government-issued bicycles and sewing machines to water tanks and even funeral sheds prominently featured Naidu’s image, with the most bizarre example being papad packets bearing his photo.