Andhra Pradesh to roll out mission-mode mental health support for students

Andhra Pradesh Education Minister Nara Lokesh has directed officials to roll out large-scale awareness programmes aimed at reducing mental stress among students, along with stronger institutional support for mental health, as a mission-mode initiative.

Chairing a review meeting with senior officials of the School Education, Higher Education and Skill Development departments at his residence in Undavalli on Wednesday, Mr. Lokesh said the programme should combine mental health awareness, guidance and institutional backing.

Samagra Shiksha State Project Director B. Srinivasa Rao told the meeting that the CARE AP tool, developed to address students' mental health concerns, had completed its pilot phase.

On the Heartfulness Yoga programme, the Minister directed that yoga training be given to about 4.47 lakh students across 935 government schools in the first phase. Mr. Srinivasa Rao said 2,000 interested teachers would be trained by the Kanha Shanti Vanam organisation in Hyderabad. These teachers would conduct yoga classes in hybrid mode this year, with fully physical sessions to begin next year.

Reviewing academic performance, Mr. Lokesh asked officials to aim for 90% results in both Class 10 and Intermediate examinations and to work towards meeting and exceeding their Key Performance Indicator targets.

He proposed Facial Recognition Systems in universities and colleges to improve attendance among students and faculty, and appreciated teachers and officials for implementing the Mission March programme across the State. Subject teachers lagging in syllabus completion should undergo mandatory capacity-building programmes with mentor teachers, he said, stressing the need to achieve 100% literacy under the Akshara Andhra programme by the end of next year, in line with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's vision.

Turning to skill development, the Minister directed officials to develop 10 industry-linked ITI clusters across the State in the first phase under the PM SETU scheme, with participation from industrial companies. Officials were asked to consult firms in steel, renewable energy, aquaculture and pharmaceuticals, and to prepare a 90-day action plan for the clusters.

A.P. State Skill Development Corporation Managing Director Ganesh Kumar said 5.43 lakh people had received skill training in the State so far, while 1.72 lakh had secured employment through job fairs held over the past two years. Mr. Lokesh directed that MLAs and other public representatives be involved in organising job fairs to widen employment opportunities.

The meeting was attended by Human Resources Department Principal Secretary J. Shyamala Rao, Higher Education Director Narayana Bharat Gupta, Intermediate Education Director Ranjit Basha, School Education Director Tameem Ansaria and other senior officials.