Andhra Pradesh: Over 5 lakh tablets to be distributed in government schools

NEW DELHI: Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, announced that a total of 5,18,740 tabs would be distributed at the government schools in the state over the next seven days under the agreement signed with BYJU's.

The initiative will cost the government over Rs 778 crore. Today, the tabs were distributed to 4,59,564 students and 59,176 teachers of class 8 in government and aided schools from across the state. Reedy announced that the Samsung tabs pre-loaded with Byju’s content would be made available to every student entering the 8th grade from next year.

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This initiative will enable students to learn subjects anywhere and anytime through tabs containing an SD card with Byju's premium content loaded for classes 8 and 9. The Andhra Pradesh government has also introduced the 'subject teacher' concept along with introducing English as the medium of instruction in schools.

Speaking at the mega gathering of teachers, students, and their mothers, the Chief Minister said: "Some sections of society are not eager to adapt to a changing generation, but this government firmly believes we are just at the beginning of the digital revolution. We aim to enhance the education system through a holistic approach with government initiatives. I am launching this program as a good uncle to those children and an elder brother to those mothers. There are disparities between states in the per capita income of states, just as there are disparities between countries in the world. Similar gaps exist between communities in the state."

Regarding class discrimination, which is prevalent in this state, he added: “It must be eradicated. A child has the right to education and quality education, which includes the right to learn English too. English medium is not just the choice of the elite class, but for our children too. However, when it comes to our Children, court cases are filed against the move toward the English medium, which is unfortunate.”