School Education Principal Secretary J. Shyamala Rao on Saturday turned a routine inspection into a hands-on lesson in classroom engagement, visiting government schools in Edupugallu village of Kankipadu mandal in Krishna district and spending time with students and teachers across primary and high school levels.
Accompanied by Director of School Education A. Tameem Ansariya and Samagra Shiksha State Project Director B. Srinivasa Rao, Mr. Shyamala Rao visited the Adarsha Primary School and the PM Shri Zilla Parishad High School, where he moved beyond formal review and interacted directly with children, teachers and school staff. At the primary school, he examined the FLN Jaduyi Pitara kit, a learning resource designed to support foundational literacy and numeracy, and watched students use its materials in classroom activities.
The official conducted interactive exercises in Telugu, English and Mathematics, asking children to identify, read and write letters while encouraging them to participate without hesitation. The interaction was framed as a practical demonstration of how classroom teaching can be made more engaging and outcome-oriented, with the principal secretary repeatedly steering attention back to the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic.
He also inspected the food being served under the Dokka Seethamma Mid Day Meal Scheme, tasted the meal and millet chikki, and praised the quality of the food. The visit extended to the bags and assessment books distributed under the Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyarthi Mitra Kit, which he reviewed while also enquiring about teachers' performance and classroom practices.
Directing teachers to give individual attention to students and focus on improving learning outcomes, Mr. Shyamala Rao singled out Class III student Harika after seeing her drawings and encouraged her to continue pursuing her interests. He also used stories from the Values Education books to engage students, underscoring the department's emphasis on academic learning alongside moral and social development.
At the PM Shri Zilla Parishad High School, Scouts and Guides students accorded the visiting officials a ceremonial salute before the team inspected the PAL Lab, Clicker Classes and sports lab. The principal secretary interacted with students about their competencies and skills, reflecting the government's growing emphasis on activity-based learning, digital tools and co-curricular development in public schools.
The visit took a more classroom-like turn when Mr. Shyamala Rao met Class X students preparing for Mission March. Advising them to plan their studies systematically, he urged them to avoid examination-related stress and focus on disciplined preparation. He then stepped up to the classroom board and taught Mathematics, using questions and answers to draw students into the lesson.
Later, at a School Complex Meeting held on the school premises, he held discussions with teachers on timely completion of the syllabus, adoption of simple teaching methods and strengthening students' language skills. The message to the teaching community was direct: the government, he said, was making significant investments in the future of students, and teachers must play their part in shaping them into responsible citizens and guiding them towards progress.
The visit brought together a range of senior education officials, including Director of Government Examinations K.V. Srinivasulu Reddy, A.P. State Council of Educational Research and Training Director M.V. Krishna Reddy, Additional Director in the State Academic Monitoring Office K. Nageswara Rao, Regional Joint Director G. Nagamani, Krishna District Education Officer U. V. Subba Rao, Kankipadu Deputy Education Officer Ravikumar, school headmasters and other officials.
The inspection highlighted the state education department's current priorities: foundational learning, classroom engagement, teacher accountability and better student outcomes. By stepping into the role of a teacher himself, Mr. Shyamala Rao sent a symbolic message that administrative oversight alone is not enough, and that sustained improvement in government schools will depend on what happens inside the classroom every day.