Federation to Educate Girls Globally (FEGG), an NGO which works for promotion of female education, has awarded the “Landscape Study - Building a Framework for Quality Open School Education in Andhra Pradesh” to CIPS to conduct a study and provide insights into the educational landscape by identifying gaps, challenges and opportunities in the State’s current secondary education system by assessing the demand for open schooling in the state, focusing on the Aspirational districts, examining the existing infrastructure, resources and technological capabilities and develop a set of indicators that can serve as benchmarks for the successful establishment and functioning of State Open School.
The landscape study highlights the urgent need to strengthen open school education in Andhra Pradesh to align with national priorities such as SDG 4, NEP 2020, and NCF 2023, while addressing the rising number of out-of-school children and dropout rates. With more than 4.5 crore out-of-school children nationally and increasing dropouts in 14 districts of Andhra Pradesh, APOSS plays a crucial role in providing inclusive, flexible, and skill-oriented learning pathways. The study examines gaps in enrollment, curriculum relevance, pedagogy, digital access, and academic support through extensive field research involving students, tutors, coordinators, and state functionaries. Findings indicate high potential for increasing enrollment, reducing dropouts, and improving learner outcomes through targeted interventions, and greater integration of skill development and digital learning.
The report provides comprehensive recommendations focused on strengthening outreach, revising curriculum, modernizing pedagogy, improving digital and physical infrastructure, and enhancing governance through dashboards, monitoring formats, and timely staffing. It emphasizes strategic collaborations—with Samagra Shiksha, ICDS, APSRTC, Health, Police, APSDC, IIT Madras, and NGOs—to expand vocational opportunities, improve digital content (e.g., Vidya Shakti), and reach NEET youth. Public-Private-People Partnerships and targeted support for aspirational districts can further expand APOSS’s reach. Benchmarking mechanisms proposed in the study will enable continuous improvement, leading to higher enrollment, better pass percentages, stronger skill development, and meaningful socio-economic advancement for learners and communities across Andhra Pradesh.
Students participating in the FGD in an open school in Annammayya District
CIPS Research Team with AI Coordinators and officials of PCP Centre in Annamayya District, Andhra Pradesh