Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Andhra Pradesh Minister for Education and IT Nara Lokesh visited the PM SHRI AP Model School at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district on Tuesday, where they reviewed the state’s ongoing efforts to modernize school education and improve learning outcomes.
The ministers were welcomed by the school’s principal, teachers, students, and staff before touring the campus. During the visit, they inspected classrooms, learning facilities, sports infrastructure, skill laboratories, and the school library while interacting with students and educators to understand the impact of the state’s education initiatives.
Lokesh briefed the Union Minister on several flagship academic reforms introduced by the Andhra Pradesh government. Pradhan reviewed the Jadu Pitara learning kit, Student Progress Cards, Assessment Booklets, and value education books featuring the teachings of Chaganti Koteswara Rao. He also examined the Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyarthi Mitra Kit, which includes textbooks, notebooks, workbooks, uniforms, school bags, shoes, belts, socks, and dictionaries provided to students.
A key highlight of the visit was the demonstration of the School Education Department’s LEAP Dashboard, which enables real-time monitoring of enrolment, attendance, learning outcomes, inspections, midday meals, school infrastructure, dropouts, and other performance indicators. Lokesh also explained the Smart Kitchens initiative, currently being implemented as a pilot project in Kadapa, aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of midday meal preparation in government schools.
The ministers later visited the sports room, skill lab, and pre-vocational education section, where they observed students using technology in practical learning. They appreciated a homework and periodic assessment application developed by a student using the Python programming language and also reviewed vocational learning materials under the Kaushal Bodh programme.
During an interaction inside a Class 9 classroom, Pradhan watched an interactive digital lesson on the Physiographic Divisions of India and participated in a live classroom quiz conducted through a smart panel. He engaged with students by asking questions about their studies, language preferences, and daily school routine. In one memorable interaction, Pradhan asked a student named Chanakya whether he knew who Chanakya was and whether he was a king or a kingmaker. The student correctly replied that Chanakya was a kingmaker, drawing appreciation from the Union Minister.
The ministers also visited the PAL (Programme for Activity-based Learning) Lab, where students demonstrated personalized learning methods. As a gesture of appreciation, a student presented 3D-printed nameplates of both Dharmendra Pradhan and Nara Lokesh.
Commending the progress made in Andhra Pradesh’s education sector, Dharmendra Pradhan appreciated Nara Lokesh’s efforts to strengthen school education through technology, infrastructure development, and student-focused reforms. The visit highlighted the collaboration between the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh government in enhancing the quality of education and creating better learning opportunities for students across the state.