Lokesh to launch Dokka Seethamma Mid-Day Meal Scheme for govt college students

On 03 Jan 2025 16:13:19

Minister for HRD and IT, Nara Lokesh, is set to launch the Dokka Seethamma Mid-Day Meal Scheme in government junior colleges on Saturday.

Minister for HRD and IT, Nara Lokesh, is set to launch the Dokka Seethamma Mid-Day Meal Scheme in government junior colleges on Saturday. The program, aimed at benefiting 1,48,419 intermediate students across 475 junior colleges, will be formally inaugurated at Payakapuram Government Junior College in Vijayawada City. The event will see participation from several ministers and MLAs, marking a State-wide rollout of the scheme.

The government has linked 398 colleges to nearby schools for meal preparation, while the remaining 77 colleges will receive meals from centralized kitchens. The scheme is allocated Rs 27.39 crore for the current academic year, with Rs 85.84 crore set aside for the next year. Reforms in Govt Junior Colleges This year, over 2 lakh students in government junior colleges, AP Model Schools, Kasturba Gandhi Vidyalayas, and High School Plus Schools received free textbooks, notebooks, and school bags.

The establishment of Academic Guidance and Monitoring Cells (AGMCs) at district and regional levels has improved teaching methodologies. Notably, the Vidyashakti pilot project, implemented in 29 government junior colleges in Chittoor and Guntur districts in collaboration with IIT Madras, has enhanced student competencies in core subjects like Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and English. Expert teachers trained by IIT Madras are providing daily online classes via Zoom, while parent-teacher meetings and WhatsApp updates ensure regular monitoring of student progress. Curriculum Overhaul : For the first time in 12 years, significant curriculum changes are planned to align with the National Education Policy-2020.

Starting in the 2025-26 academic year, the Inter 2nd year syllabus will be adjusted to incorporate NCERT standards and competitive exam requirements. Assessments will include more multiple-choice and short-answer questions to foster competency-based evaluation. Additionally, from the next academic year, intermediate students will receive kits containing EAMCET/NEET material, practical records, and books. A dual certification program for vocational students is also in the works, in collaboration with the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), aimed at enhancing their employment prospects.

Infrastructure Development Underway : Under the "Mana Badi – Mana Pukhti" scheme, the government has sanctioned Rs 307.76 crore for infrastructure development in 447 colleges. So far, Rs 169.69 crore has been released, enabling the provision of essential facilities like drinking water, toilets, furniture, and digital teaching tools. Major repairs and construction projects, including compound walls and interactive flat panels, are also underway. A mentorship program is being implemented to support academically weaker students, targeting improved pass percentages.