Andhra Pradesh plans to introduce Heartfulness Yoga training in 963 government schools in the first phase of a student wellbeing initiative. The programme is expected to cover 4.47 lakh students, Education Minister N. Lokesh said during a review meeting with school education, higher education and skill development officials in Vijayawada on Wednesday.
Lokesh directed officials to launch awareness programmes on student mental health and stress across the state. He called for a coordinated effort that would give students guidance and strengthen support systems within educational institutions. The yoga rollout is one part of that wider plan, with teacher training and classroom delivery set to follow.
State project director B. Srinivasa Rao said 2,000 teachers would soon receive training at Kanha Shanti Vanam in Hyderabad. Those teachers are expected to help conduct hybrid yoga classes this year, followed by fully in-person sessions from next year. The phased approach gives schools time to prepare staff before expanding regular physical classes.
Rao also said the department had developed Care AP, a tool to monitor student mental health, and had successfully piloted it. The government’s next steps will be significant for schools: officials must turn the pilot and training plans into support that students can access when they need help. The report did not specify a statewide launch date for Care AP.
During the meeting, Rao highlighted upcoming training for science teachers at the Agastya Science Foundation in Kuppam. That programme was discussed alongside the wellbeing measures as officials reviewed priorities across the education system.
Lokesh also directed officials to focus on academic results, setting a target of 90 per cent pass rates in Class X and Intermediate examinations. He asked departments to follow key performance indicators so that progress could be measured against the goals discussed at the review meeting.
For higher education institutions, the minister directed officials to implement facial recognition systems to improve attendance in universities and colleges. The proposed measure forms part of the government’s broader review of student participation and institutional performance.
The immediate focus for government schools is the first phase of yoga training: preparing 2,000 teachers and reaching students in the identified 963 schools. Officials have outlined the scale and delivery plan, while the start dates for classes at individual schools remain to be announced.
