'Andhra Pradesh Government Aims to Achieve 100% Literacy Rate'

Visakhapatnam: Urging teachers to help transform Andhra Pradesh into a "knowledge hub", chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the state aims to achieve the target of 100 per cent literacy rate by 2019.

"Education is very essential for development of the country and eradication of poverty. Though Andhra Pradesh stands at a good position in higher education, it is lagging behind in primary education. It is the responsibility of teachers to work with commitment and look after the welfare of students. Help transform the state into knowledge hub in future," Naidu said.

Addressing teachers and students on the occasion of Teachers' Day at Andhra University Engineering College ground he said "My aim is to bring 100 per cent literacy in Andhra Pradesh by 2019, although as of now the literacy rate of the state is just 67 per cent".

Pointing on the need to improve the standards of primary education, Naidu said, "The government is taking all the measures to improve primary education by creating best infrastructure in the state. We are also committed to provide quality education to poor students, for which additional residential schools will be opened in the state if necessary."

"Although the state faced fund crunch, the government increased the budget for school education to improve the educational standards of government schools. The Centre had announced to set up eleven educational institutions in Andhra Pradesh after the state bifurcation. "Out of the eleven, foundation for five institutions, like IIM, has already been laid," he said.

" The state government has signed an MoU with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to take up the skill development programme in university colleges," he added.