Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh government has introduced statewide reforms in school education aimed at strengthening gender equality in textbooks and classroom learning.
According to Education Minister Nara Lokesh, earlier Class 1 and Class 2 textbooks often portrayed household chores as work done only by women. The content has now been revised to show men and women sharing responsibilities equally, with the stated goal of avoiding gender bias and nurturing respect for women from an early age.
Alongside curriculum changes, the state has introduced technology to support discussion-based learning. A plan has been outlined to make classrooms more engaging through short recap videos and follow-up questions during lessons.
As part of the new approach, students will watch a 60–90 second summary video after every 45-minute class, followed by four to five questions. Students will respond using a dedicated electronic device, and the answers will be discussed in class to encourage active participation.
The reforms also include a Saturday “bagless day” across schools, featuring practical sessions such as managing family and farm budgets, field visits, and an introduction to artificial intelligence, including its benefits and risks. The initiatives have reportedly received a positive response from educators and parents.
