Schooling in Andhra Pradesh: A Premier Destination for Quality Education

Over years a number of residential schools have come up in the state of Andhra Pradesh.  It also has been a preferred choice for schooling for students from the neighboring states.  

The southern part of the peninsula has always been known for the quality of its school education and has been an attraction for the students across India. Proof of the pudding is in the eating – we see that year after year the southern states perform better in the board examinations of national curriculum boards like CBSE.

Andhra Pradesh has about 64000 schools educating more than 80 million students. About 16000 of them are private unaided schools imparting education to nearly 50% of these students with the help of 125000 teachers.

The State hosts a diverse set of K-12 schools – only day schools to full boarding; state curriculum to national curriculum (like CBSE and ICSE) to International curriculum (like Cambridge and International Baccalaureate); schools with completely free education to schools with world-class premium facilities; schools focused on acing the competitive exams to schools nurturing the child holistically. The state has schools to serve every need. There are about 40 schools in the state offering a varied bouquet of residential facilities to students.

A boarding school offers an environment where students are regularly engaged, active and interested. This can be difficult to achieve at private or public schools or when both parents are busy, and children are surrounded by distractions at home. For 24 hours a day, seven days a week, children will be in a place dedicated to their learning and development. “I found the quality of teachers and support they provide to students will make a great impact on my child. Best teachers educate with her hearts and not just with their minds”, says Mr Anup Agarwal from Sambalpur, Odisha, who has put his son in an international boarding school in Visakhapatnam.

Boarding school can be a fantastic opportunity for children to experience a unique educational environment that is both personally challenging and academically stimulating. Studying away from home gives children time to discover their talents, strengths, skills, and even their weaknesses.

Surrounded by their peers, as well as well-trained staff, boarding students can learn both soft skills and vital life skills, including how to do simple chores and how to effectively manage their time. “Effective time management is the most important skill I learned as a boarding school student”, echoes Leeladhar Malla, who is presently pursuing his MMBS at Andhra Medical College.

With the improving infrastructure and connectivity in the state, it is emerging as a preferred destination for students across the neighbouring states like Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Tamilnadu. The prospect of studying in good English Medium schools and placement in reputed universities and colleges has put the state in the sweet spot with the students of North Eastern states as well. Ayan Pradhan from Chhattisgarh, who is majoring in Finance from the University of Illinois, Chicago says “I would not have been able to realize my dream to study in one of the top universities in USA without the support I have received from my teachers in my Boarding school. They were always ready to help me, even after the regular school hours.”

Improved international connectivity has led students in countries like South Korea, Thailand, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Nepal to explore the top residential schools in cities like Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Chittoor.

“I wanted to study in a school which has an international atmosphere and would help me in developing excellent communication skills in English. That is why we selected the Oakridge International School in the beautiful city of Visakhapatnam. It not only offers a world-class infrastructure but a very warm and caring environment in its boarding houses”, says Kim who is from South Korea and plans to study in the London School of Economics in future.

The quality of education has also seen a drastic change in the schools in the state. The focus has shifted from studying purely to crack competitive exams to develop a more balanced and holistic personality.

“We are ambitious for our students to achieve the highest level of success in academics so that they stand a good chance to pursue their chosen course of study or career anywhere in the world. The teaching pedagogy at Oakridge imbibes experiential learning that has elements of problem-solving, critical thinking, leadership, and collaboration. The global collaborations through Nord Anglia Education such as the MIT STEAM, UNICEF and Juilliard School of Music further our vision to develop successful and responsible global students. The Global Campus platform connects our students to 70000+ students in 31 countries helping them to develop international-mindedness”, says Shaila Bhamidipati, Principal of Oakridge International School, Visakhapatnam.

Good boarding schools also place a heavy focus on the well-being of each student, acknowledging the importance of good mental health to education. Support is readily available in schools, as dedicated House Parents are tasked with cultivating a positive culture within boarding houses. “Ensuring both the physical and mental wellbeing of my students is my top priority. We are more than teachers; we are like their extended family. COVID-19 pandemic has only helped us to further strengthen the support system. Indeed, I feel the school is much safer than outside”, said Ms Dipannita, House Parent at an international boarding school.