Andhra Pradesh Minister for Education, IT and Electronics Nara Lokesh has called upon teachers to become leaders and change-makers in transforming the state’s education system, assuring them that the government will recognize and encourage educators who deliver outstanding results.
Lokesh made these remarks during an interaction with 37 teachers who recently returned from a study tour to Singapore. The meeting was held at his Undavalli residence, where the teachers shared their experiences and discussed how global best practices could be adapted to strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s education system.
The minister said teachers are the driving force behind social transformation and stressed that meaningful change in society is possible only through quality education. He explained that his decision to take charge of the Education Department was driven by a strong commitment to building one of the world’s best education systems. According to him, the department will play a key role in achieving Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s vision of Swarna Andhra, especially by introducing advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing into education.
Sharing his own experience, Lokesh recalled studying at Stanford University in the United States, where he had the opportunity to learn alongside students from nearly 100 countries. He said the exposure to different cultures and ideas highlighted the importance of continuous learning and innovation.
He urged the teachers who attended the Singapore programme to become “change-makers” by implementing what they learned in their schools, clusters and mandals. He encouraged them to mentor fellow teachers and emphasized that a strong relationship between teachers, students and subjects is essential for improving learning outcomes. While the government has been strengthening school infrastructure, he said equal importance must now be given to improving teaching methods and classroom learning.
Lokesh acknowledged that educational reforms take time but said the state has already started witnessing positive results. He revealed that more than one lakh students shifted from private schools to government schools this year, attributing the trend to the reforms introduced by the government. He expressed confidence that government school teachers are second to none and appealed to them to work together in creating the “AP Model of Education.”
The minister said Andhra Pradesh’s education reforms are now being discussed across the country and added that the state should aim to compete with the world’s best education systems rather than only with other Indian states. He assured teachers of the government’s continued support and highlighted the introduction of the Teacher Transfer Act, which has ensured transparent transfers and promotions based on seniority without political influence.
Lokesh also stressed the need to focus on analytical thinking and measurable learning outcomes while building students’ capabilities for the future. He said not every challenge in the education sector can be resolved overnight, but the government is committed to addressing them step by step based on priority.
Encouraging teachers to continue upgrading their skills, he said the Singapore study tour should help strengthen their professional capacity and leadership qualities. Referring to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Lokesh said the Chief Minister continues to learn and explore new ideas even at the age of 75, citing his recent visit to Singapore to study global best practices. He urged teachers to follow the same spirit of continuous learning and innovation and assured them that the government would stand firmly behind them in making Andhra Pradesh the No. 1 state in education.
Education Commissioner Tameem Ansaria and SCERT Director M. Venkata Krishna Reddy, among other officials, also attended the meeting.