Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday called on govt school teachers to equip themselves with foreign language skills and introduce students to languages such as German, Japanese and Korean, saying proficiency in them could significantly improve global employment opportunities for Telangana’s youth.“Even if the students learn the basics of these languages, they will get employment opportunities with salaries ranging up to ₹2 lakh per month in these respective countries. In the past, mostly IAS and IPS officers used to go on study tours abroad but the Congress govt is sending govt teachers on foreign tours to study the best education policies, which can be implemented in Telangana,” Revanth said after inaugurating the new building of the Kothakota girls’ high school in Wanaparthy district.Praising teachers for improving academic outcomes, the chief minister noted that Telangana had secured the 18th rank among states and Union Territories in the Centre’s Performance Grading Index (PGI). He urged educators to strive for a top-two ranking in the coming years.Emphasising that the govt had accorded the highest priority to strengthening public education, Revanth said govt schools must play a key role in the rebuilding of Telangana.“Excel either in education or sports, and the Congress govt will support you,” he told students.The chief minister said student enrolment in govt schools had suffered over the past decade because of inadequate infrastructure and neglect. He said the Congress govt had launched a major drive to improve facilities and create better learning environments in public educational institutions.According to him, the govt is enhancing infrastructure, providing basic amenities and will complete distribution of education kits to nearly 28 lakh students by Aug 15.“The future of Telangana and the students is in the classrooms. That is why I have kept the education portfolio with me. A system will be followed as part of which students can give their feedback on education kits and education to the govt through WhatsApp. The Congress govt is spending ₹1.08 lakh per annum per student,” Revanth said.He also outlined several initiatives aimed at equipping students and youth with technical and future-ready skills, stating that such efforts were essential at a time when artificial intelligence was reshaping the job market.Reiterating his govt’s commitment to transforming public education, Revanth said his goal was to bring govt schools on a par with private and corporate institutions.He urged students to take pride in their schools and reject any stigma associated with studying in govt institutions.“If anyone tries to belittle, tell them, Revanth Reddy studied in a govt school and went on to become the chief minister. Ministers Jupally Krishna Rao and Vakiti Srihari, and Telangana State Planning Board vice-chairperson G Chinna Reddy were all govt school students in the past,” he said.
