AP Schools – NEO 2020 - Reorganization of School Complexes in the State – G.O.1 Released

 

AP Schools – NEO 2020 - Reorganization of School Complexes in the State – G.O.1 Released

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School Education – National Educational Policy, 2020 – Reorganization of School Complexes in the State – Orders – Issued.

SCHOOL EDUCATION (PROG.II) DEPARTMENT 

G.O.MS.No. 1, Dated: 11-01-2025

Read the following: 

From the Director of School Education, eFile No: ESE02/1004/2024-IT-CSE (Computer No: 2635090), dt. 10.12.2024 and 03.01.2025. 

ORDER:

The National Education Policy, 2020, envisages that the challenges faced by India's schooling system are due to the proliferation of small schools, many of which have fewer than 30 students. It draws attention to the inefficiencies in resource allocation, such as the lack of specialized teachers and physical resources like labs and sports equipment. The isolation of teachers and students in small schools impedes community-based learning and makes governance difficult. 

2. The National Education Policy, 2020, proposes the concept of "school complexes" as a solution. This involves grouping smaller schools around a central secondary school to share resources and teachers, thereby improving the overall quality of education. The idea is to foster vibrant communities of teachers and students, improve resource efficiency, and enhance the educational experience for all involved. Key benefits include better integration of education across levels, improved support for children with disabilities, and more efficient school governance through the creation of School Complex Management Committees. By 2025, the document suggests that states and UTs should adopt innovative mechanisms to group schools, ensuring adequate staffing, resources, and a sense of community. The emphasis is on ensuring that no child is deprived of access while maintaining educational quality and operational efficiency.                                                             

3. The present school complex system in Andhra Pradesh faces several challenges. Geographic dispersion and poor transportation infrastructure in rural areas make clustering schools logistically difficult, while existing teacher shortages could worsen as educators are required to serve multiple schools. The uneven availability of infrastructure, such as labs and libraries, complicates resource-sharing across schools. Operational complexity increases as managing multiple schools within a cluster adds administrative burdens, necessitating robust governance structures. There is also resistance from communities and educators concerned about the potential loss of local school identity. Addressing these issues is crucial for the successful implementation of the system. 

4. In order to strengthen the school complexes, A comprehensive review of the existing grouping of school complexes has been taken up, and consultations with stakeholders have been held to identify the issues, gaps, and areas for effective governance through school complexes by efficient utilization of resources available. Accordingly, the Director of School Education, A.P., in the reference read above, has furnished a detailed proposal for the reorganization of school complexes in the state, duly taking the following criteria into account: 

Parameter	Criteria
Geographical Area	Schools within a Panchayat shall be tagged to one School Complex.
Teachers and Students Strength	Each School Complex shall consist of 40-50 teachers and 800-1000 students after reorganization
Number of Schools	Rural areas: 10-15 schools per complex. Urban areas: 8-10 schools per complex.
Distance	Rural areas: 10-15 km. Urban areas: 5-10 km.
Tagging of Schools	All Government/Local Body schools and Residential Schools under various Government Societies shall be tagged to a School Complex located within the specified parameters.

5. Based on the above criteria, the Director of School Education, A.P., identified 4,034 clusters across the state and invited objections from all stakeholders by providing ample time for submission. A total of 64 objections were received from 18 districts, all of which were thoroughly reviewed by the committee consisting of the Regional Joint Directors of School Education and disposed of with proper remarks. Upon disposal, the Director of School Education submitted the final data to the Government as outlined below: 

6. Government, after careful examination of the matter, hereby accords permission for the reorganization of 4034 Cluster school complexes in the State (2809-A clusters and 1225-B clusters), to streamline teacher training, enhance monitoring of educational outcomes, and ensure that schools are equipped to meet the evolving educational needs of students. 

7. The Director of School Education, A.P., and the State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha, A.P., shall take necessary action accordingly in the matter.

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