AP Education department proposes equipment worth ₹20 lakh installed at labs in 641 schools in State

By Our Special Correspondent

The school education department decided to step in and take action after receiving many complaints about science laboratories being turned into storage rooms and equipment being mere showpieces.

On April 4, 2022, the Commissioner for School Education (CSE) issued a directive to teachers, informing them that schools will be evaluated and graded based on the use of science labs, which are reported to be non-utilizing science labs. A purpose intended over the last few years.

According to CSE, the state government has set up lab facilities in 641 schools, including some private schools, with an aim to enable students to understand scientific concepts beyond books and traditional classroom teaching and prove all theoretical concepts through experiments. Laboratories.

Funds have also been allocated for science labs under the central government's Rashtriya Madhyamika Shiksha Abhiyan scheme. In some schools, students were not allowed in the labs, while in others the labs were converted into storage rooms. As the equipment became a mere showpiece, students could not gain practical experience on many scientific concepts.

Although the students filed a complaint on October 12, 2021, the situation remained the same in many schools with a few exceptions. Officials of school education departments explained that laboratory teaching is an important teaching tool in science because it provides training in observation, gives detailed information, arouses interest in students, assumes first-hand experience, makes learning more creative and also increases psycho-motor skills.

GV Narayana Reddy, president of AP Principals' Association, argued that teachers are not being adequately trained in using the equipment. “Although the schools are provided with necessary equipment, the labs do not have water supply or proper drainage system. Allocation of funds for purchase of chemicals should also be regularized every year,” said Narayana Reddy, adding that there is no proper system to monitor the performance of these labs.

He said that teachers are giving priority to completing the syllabus which has increased in recent times rather than conducting lab activities. Mukkala Apparao, state president of Noble Teachers Association, said that at present one period i.e. 40 minutes is allotted for the lab. He added that teachers need at least two periods to teach experiments to students.

On this matter, School Education Commissioner S Suresh Kumar said that equipment worth Rs.20 lakh has been set up in labs in 641 schools with the help of Atal Tinkering Lab initiative. He said that the problems in the use of the labs will be identified and steps will be taken to rectify them soon.

Mukkala Apparao, state chief of Noble Teachers Association, said that at present one period of 40 minutes has been allocated for lab. He added that teachers need at least two periods to teach experiments.