YSRCP alleges NDA government neglecting education, weakening public schools

Opposition YSR Congress Party has accused the NDA coalition government in Andhra Pradesh of neglecting the education sector, claiming that basic supplies like textbooks, uniforms, and shoes have not been distributed despite schools reopening over a month ago. Party leader Adimulapu Suresh alleged at a press conference in Tadepalli that government schools are being systematically weakened to benefit private institutions.

Suresh claimed that reforms introduced by the previous YSRCP government have been dismantled, forcing parents to enrol children in corporate schools. He stated that student enrolment in government schools had dropped sharply from 43 lakh to 30 lakh, suggesting a rising dropout rate and the government's failure to strengthen public education.

The YSRCP leader also criticised Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh, calling him "unfit to hold the portfolio" due to alleged poor handling of the sector. He claimed flagship YSRCP initiatives such as 'Goru Mudda' and 'Nadu-Nedu' had been diluted or discontinued.

Under the Nadu-Nedu programme, Suresh said, the previous government had upgraded 44,000 schools with facilities including compound walls, toilets, drinking water, furniture, and other infrastructure. He further alleged that English-medium instruction, digital classrooms, and subject teacher reforms had been abandoned by the present government.

Suresh claimed the education system was reverting to pre-2019 conditions, with private schools benefiting at the expense of government institutions. He also alleged irregularities in the DSC teacher recruitment process, accusing the government of favouritism and nepotism.

The allegations come amid ongoing political rivalry between the ruling NDA and opposition YSRCP. The government has not yet issued a response to these claims.