Lokesh’s decision to send top government teachers to Singapore marks a decisive step towards globalising public education:*_ *- Palla Srinivasa Rao*

Amaravati, May 2:*Describing it as a forward-looking intervention aimed at elevating the State’s education ecosystem to international standards, Palla Srinivasa Rao on Friday commended the initiative of Education Minister Nara Lokesh to depute a select group of government school teachers to Singapore for advanced training.

Mr. Rao observed that the decision to send 37 of the State’s most accomplished teachers abroad was not merely symbolic, but a structurally significant move capable of catalysing qualitative transformation within the public education system. “Reform in classrooms begins with empowered teachers,” he noted, underlining that exposure to global pedagogical practices reflects a calibrated and long-term vision.

He stated that the programme signals a shift in the State’s approach—one that prioritises capacity-building among educators as the cornerstone of systemic reform. The training at Singapore’s National Institute of Education, he said, would equip teachers with contemporary methodologies, including digital learning frameworks, smart classroom integration, and project-based instruction. These, in turn, are expected to enhance learning outcomes and foster critical thinking among students.

The delegation, which departed from Vijayawada, will be in Singapore from May 2 to May 9. During this period, participants will engage with globally benchmarked teaching models and institutional practices, with the objective of contextualising and implementing them within Andhra Pradesh’s government schools.

Mr. Rao further remarked that the reforms spearheaded by Mr. Lokesh—particularly in teacher training and the introduction of modern instructional techniques—have the potential to position the State as a national exemplar in public education. He attributed the initiative to a broader commitment to democratise access to world-class education, asserting that investments in teacher development would yield enduring dividends in shaping students’ futures.

“The intent is clear—to bridge the gap between aspiration and access in public education,” Mr. Rao said, adding that such measures would gradually transform government schools into centres of academic excellence.

                    K.V.SHARMA. EDITOR