AP government spends Rs 444 cr a year on school toilets, says education minister: Report

NEW DELHI: Andhra Pradesh government is spending Rs 444.89 crores every year for cleaning school toilets, education minister Audimulapu Suresh said while denying the allegations of teachers cleaning the toilets, the New Indian Express reported.

Also Read | NAS 2021: Over 38 lakh students from 733 districts to participate in survey

The government is using the money given under the Amma Vodi scheme and has selected sanitation helpers in all the 45,716 schools across the state, the minister said, as per the report.

“A helper is appointed for every 300 students, and Rs 6,000 is being paid per month to each sanitation helper, besides supplying chemical kits for cleaning the toilets. The sanitation of school toilets is being monitored by village secretariat employees to district level officials,” he was quoted as saying by TNIE.

The minister alleged that a part of the media and some people are spreading false information on social media, the report said.

“The education system in the State is being strengthened under the leadership of Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. A section of people who cannot digest the fact is trying to bring disrepute to the government with false propaganda,” the minister further said, as per the report.

Suresh also mentioned that most of the people are aware of the circumstances and praising the government for its good deeds in the education sector, the report said.

Recently, in other news, Suresh said that there is no compulsion for aided educational institutes to merge with the state government.

The Andhra Pradesh government is preparing to merge Classes 3 to 5 of primary schools with high schools in the state.

Also Read | CBSE to use advanced data analytics to conduct fair examinations

The government decided to merge the schools in order to provide quality education to students in a better environment with all facilities like playgrounds, greenery, computer systems, recreation facilities, toilet, and drinking water besides all kinds of sports and games which are usually available at high schools.