File Photo: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu
Calling upon teachers to help transform Andhra Pradesh into a "knowledge hub", Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today said the state eyes to achieve the target of 100 per cent literacy rate by 2019.
"Education is very essential for development of the country and eradication of poverty. Though Andhra Pradesh stands at a good position in higher education, it is lagging behind in primary education. It is the responsibility of teachers to work with commitment and look after the welfare of students. Help transform the state into knowledge hub in future," Mr Naidu said.
He was addressing teachers and students on the occasion of Teachers' Day at Andhra University Engineering College grounds here, where he presented Best Teachers' awards 71 teachers.
"My aim is to bring 100 per cent literacy in Andhra Pradesh by 2019, although as of now the literacy rate of the state is just 67 per cent," he said.
Underlining the need to improve the standards of primary education, Mr Naidu said, "The government is taking all the measures to improve primary education by creating best infrastructure in the state. We are also committed to provide quality education to poor students, for which additional residential schools will be opened in the state if necessary."
He said that although the state faced fund crunch, the government increased the budget for school education to improve the educational standards of government schools.
According to Naidu, the Centre had announced to set up eleven educational institutions in Andhra Pradesh after the state bifurcation. "Out of the eleven, foundation for five institutions, like IIM, has already been laid," he said.
He said the state government today signed an MoU with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to take up the skill development programme in university colleges.
Andhra Pradesh Human Resources Development Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao said the state government has increased the budget allocation to education sector from 10 per cent to 16 per cent with a view to provide quality education to all sections of the society.