Page 25 - EW August 2025

guage degree programme has dropped education.
from 406 in 2024 to 290 this year. “PTM 2.0 wasn’t a mere
This swirl of chaos and confusion is festive conclave. Our prime
arousing growing indignation within objective was to discuss how
academia. “Many higher ed institu- to make school managements
tions have already commenced class- accountable for children’s
es. As a result, even if students wish academic progress and well-
to, they may no longer find it prudent being and to place parents
to enroll at JU because they will have at the centre of children’s
to struggle to catch up,” says Partha learning journey,” says an
Pratim Ray, associate professor of education ministry official.
physics at Jadavpur University. By all accounts PTM 2.0
Persistent admission delays to even held simultaneously in cities,
the most prestigious higher ed institu- towns and rural habitats
tions such as JU and PU have severely PTM 2.0 mastermind Nara Lokesh statewide, was a great suc-
dented their reputation. Frustrated cess. “I haven’t witnessed so
by administrative uncertainty and 2019-24, TDP hasn’t reversed the many male parents at a PTM before.
lack of clarity, meritorious students YSRC administrative fiat decreeing This event attracted community par-
are opting for colleges in other states, English (aka Inglish) as the medium ticipation on grand scale,” says the
prompting a talent drain from the of instruction in classes I-VI in headmistress of a government school
state. As bright minds flee Bengal, all government schools statewide. in Chittoor district. “It’s not easy to
the quality and competitiveness of Despite the AP high court striking get millions of parents to discuss
these historic universities are rapidly down this decree as being contrary education and related issues. PTM
eroding. to the National Education Policy 2.0 has generated great awareness
Caught between the failures of TMC (NEP) 2020, the TDP government of the importance of schooling for
and reckless communalism of BJP, the (which has appealed the high court upward mobility, and has stimulated
West Bengal electorate is experiencing verdict) has persisted with publica- the community-based monitor-
despair and political paralysis. With tion of bilingual textbooks to ease the ing of education,” remarks Dr. M.
both major political parties proving a transition to English as the medium Sudha, a Guntur-based education
disappointment — one destroying the of instruction in all public primary- researcher.
education sector, the other spreading secondary schools. Moreover, the DP leaders are delighted with the
communal poison — there is little en- TDP government has accepted the Toutcomes of PTM 2.0. Educa-
thusiasm for the legislative assembly three language formula — rejected tion minister Nara Lokesh stated:
election looming large on West Ben- by most South India states — which “Never before in Indian history have
gal’s cloudy horizon. encourages children to learn Hindi, simultaneously PTMs been held
Baishali Mukherjee (Kolkata) the dominant language of the popu- statewide on one day. PTM 2.0’s re-
lous Hindi heartland states. These cord attendance of almost 23 million
ANDHRA PRADESH enlightened policies are likely to parents, teachers, community leaders
Unprecedented PTM transform AP into India’s most well- and students has generated unprec-
edented interest in public education.
educated state by 2030.
To signal its serious intent to Parental involvement and their coop-
he telugu desam party (tdp) led sharply upgrade K-12 education, eration with school managements is
by four-term chief minister on July 20 the TDP government certain to improve learning outcomes
TChandrababu Naidu which convened a statewide synchro- in government schools.” An alum of
was swept back to power in Amravati nised mega Parent-Teacher Meet- America’s top-ranked Carnegie Mel-
— the fast rising city under construc- ing (PTM) 2.0 in which 22 million lon and Stanford universities, Lokesh
tion to serve as the state’s admin parents, students, teachers and master-minded and orchestrated
capital — in Andhra Pradesh last public representatives participated PTM 2.0.
year, seems hell-bent on transform- to discuss and debate ways and Chief minister Chandrababu
ing AP (pop.54 million) into India’s means to strengthen parent-school Naidu also expresses satisfaction
most literate and well-educated partnerships; promote transparency with the smooth synchronisation
state. and accountability; facilitate holistic and outcomes of PTM 2.0. “Our
For one, despite its bitter rivalry student development; raise child message to parents is that instead
with the opposition YSR Congress well-being awareness and promote of bequeathing land, property and
party which ruled the state from life skills through co-curricular money to children, endow them with

AUGUST 2025 EDUCATIONWORLD 25