No difference between Jagan, Naidu: CPI(M)

CPI(M) criticizes Andhra Pradesh governments for failing to provide quality education, leading to student hardships and school closures.

Strongly criticising the present and previous governments of Andhra Pradesh, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI[M]) state secretary V. Srinivasa Rao accused Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and former CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy of having done nothing good to the people of the state.

After the successful completion of the three-day State Maha Sabha in Nellore, he told the media here on Tuesday: “The BJP-led Central government has introduced a New Education Policy (NEP) which has defeated the federal spirit of democracy. When compared to other States, people in A.P. have suffered severe loss due to the NEP.”

He said, “Neither the previous YSRCP government nor the present alliance government has opposed the NEP. The poor and lower-middle-class students are unable to get quality education. The education sector has suffered in the state while private corporate institutions have benefited.”

Mr. Rao said, “YSRCP government had introduced G.O. 117 for reapportionment of the teachers in government schools, and removed Telugu medium. As a result, nearly about 30,000 teacher posts were cancelled. Lakhs of students have been disturbed across the State. More than 20% 10th Class students dropped out of the government schools, and 50% moved to private schools.”

“Though the alliance government claims to rectify the mistakes of the previous government, it is following the same policies. Out of 34,000 primary schools, only 10,000-12,000 are likely to be functional. As the ‘Talli ki Vandanam’ scheme was cancelled this year, the poor children studying in private schools are facing troubles,” he informed.

The CPI(M) leader observed that a similar situation was there in higher education. As there are only 169 government colleges, the students are forced to join private colleges. With the delay in fee reimbursement, the students are facing severe problems, he said, adding that lesser budgetary allocation has crippled higher education in the state.