Learn With Joy, Not Pressure: CM Chandrababu Naidu Urges Students at Mega Parent-Teacher Meet

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu urged students to embrace learning with interest rather than viewing it as a burden, saying that a few years of dedicated effort could prepare them for careers in some of the world's leading organisations. He said the State government was committed to building an education system that would enable every child to compete globally.

The Chief Minister made these remarks while addressing the Mega Parent-Teacher Meet 4.0 at the Government Upper Primary School in Rampachodavaram on Friday. Accompanied by Education Minister Nara Lokesh, Naidu interacted with students, parents and teachers, emphasising that the government's success would be judged by the achievements of its students.

He said children studying in government schools should grow into responsible and capable citizens and noted that if students secured low marks, it would reflect on the government's performance as well. Praising the reforms introduced in the education sector, he said 1.1 lakh students had shifted from private schools to government institutions, describing it as growing public confidence in the quality of government education. He added that the Mega Parent-Teacher Meet had strengthened the bond between parents and teachers, ensuring better support for children's academic progress.

Focusing on tribal education, Naidu said children from remote and tribal regions possessed immense talent and could excel if provided with the right opportunities. He announced that the government was providing IIT coaching for SC and ST students and would establish more residential schools in tribal areas. Calling education the greatest asset parents could give their children, he said the global success of Telugu professionals reflected the importance of investing in quality education. He also said the NDA government was implementing several welfare programmes to improve living standards and reduce inequalities.

The Chief Minister criticised the previous government, alleging that it had failed to conduct even a single DSC teacher recruitment examination, while claiming that 14 DSC recruitments had been completed during his 16 years in office. He also announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate the Bhogapuram International Airport on August 1.

During the programme, Naidu met tribal women to review the implementation of the 'Talliki Vandanam' scheme. Beneficiaries said the financial assistance provided for every child had encouraged families to continue their children's education. They also highlighted improvements in school infrastructure, teaching standards and nutritious meals, saying these changes had increased confidence in government schools. Women further said the Stree Shakti free bus travel scheme had made it easier to travel to nearby towns for small businesses, helping improve household incomes.

Nara Lokesh informed the Chief Minister that eligible Anganwadi workers had also been brought under the Talliki Vandanam scheme considering their financial hardships.

In a unique gesture, Naidu briefly stepped into the role of a teacher by reviewing students' progress reports inside a classroom and personally explaining their academic performance, attendance and health records to parents. He directed the District Collector to ensure that progress reports of students studying in residential schools reached their families and also inspected the use of smart boards in classrooms.

The Chief Minister also appreciated the school's environmental initiatives after inspecting plants raised by students. Officials explained that every plant had been tagged with a QR code, allowing anyone to scan and access its details. Naidu encouraged students to participate actively in the Green Passport programme, urging them to nurture the saplings they had adopted and contribute to increasing the State's green cover.

Earlier, Naidu and Lokesh received a traditional welcome from tribal women, paid floral tributes to Alluri Sitarama Raju, offered prayers at the Saraswati temple, shared a meal with students and interacted warmly with tribal families before concluding the visit.