The students attended the United Nations Education Forum and have been touring important places in the United States for the past 2 weeks.
Published Sep 27, 2023 | 5:44 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 27, 2023 | 7:08 PM
The student delegation comprised of 10 students - 8 girls and 2 boys. (Supplied)
For the first time, students of government schools in Andhra Pradesh have been sent on a two-week state-sponsored exposure trip to the US.
The trip ensured their participation in a United Nations (UN) conference on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in New York.
The students attended the UN Education Forum on 16 September, have been touring important places in the US since, and are slated to return to India this week.
The team includes two teachers, two senior officials, and 10 students — eight girls and two boys.
They are M Sivalingamma from the AP Social Welfare Residential School in Kurnool; M Chandralekha, a graduate of Navodaya School; G Ganesh Anjana Sai from IIIT, Nuzvid; D Jyotsna from Dr BR Ambedkar Gurukul School; C Rajeswari from IIIT Idupulapaya; P Gayathri from IIIT Nuzvid; V Yogeswari from IIIT Nuzvid; Shaik Ammajan from IIIT Idupulapaya; and P Manaswini from KGBV, GL Puram.
On their penultimate day in the US, the student delegation visited various organisations.
On Tuesday, 26 September, they visited the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC and interacted and engaged with the leadership team, including IMF Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath and Executive Director for India KV Subramanian.
IMF’s KV Subramanian with the student delegation. (Supplied)
Subramanian, in a video message, said, “This is a very nice initiative on the part of the Andhra Pradesh state government to fund this educational trip for these very bright kids from humble backgrounds to come and see the world.
“After all, as an economist, I can see the value that education plays not only in an individual’s life but in their entire family’s life.”
He continued, “If one kid really learns and earns very well, the whole family gets uplifted, then the state and country get upliftment. It is a very nice model that many other states can look to emulate as well.”
“It is inspiring because the experience these kids have had will not be forgotten. When they have an opportunity to interact with other children, they will drawback their lessons. The money has been very well invested,” he added.
Deputy Managing Director of IMF, Gita Gopinath, after meeting the students said on X, “It was really nice to welcome the students of Andhra Pradesh to the IMF. I am glad they made a stop at IMF headquarters as part of their UN and USA tour.”
It was really nice to welcome the students of Andhra Pradesh to the IMF. I am glad they made a stop at IMF headquarters as part of their UN and US tour. @AndhraPradeshCM pic.twitter.com/k2IPOz3l2R
— Gita Gopinath (@GitaGopinath) September 27, 2023
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, retweeted Gopinath’s tweet on X and said, “Thank you for meeting our children and receiving them with such warmth. Their bright smiles say it all! I truly believe that education is the biggest catalyst in not just transforming individual lives but transforming entire communities. Our children are shining examples of this. I’m filled with pride when I see our children so proudly and confidently represent our state on an international platform!”
Thank you for meeting our children and receiving them with such warmth @GitaGopinath garu, their bright smiles say it all!
I truly believe that education is the biggest catalyst in not just transforming individual lives but in transforming entire communities. Our children are… https://t.co/WKek9sMdh9— YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (@ysjagan) September 27, 2023
Kadapa Rathnakar, Special Representative of the Andhra government in North America, who travelled with the students, told South First: “While Subramanian inspired the students to believe in themselves, work hard, and eventually give back to the country, Gopinath asked the children to follow their dreams and be passionate in whatever they decided to pursue.”
He added, “The visit, organised entirely by the Andhra government’s Education Department and aimed at providing a global platform to children, proved to be an excellent opportunity for them to gain insights into the workings of international financial institutions. They could learn from accomplished individuals who have achieved remarkable success in their respective fields.”
This visit to the US has not only broadened the horizons of the students but has also ignited a spark within them to encourage their peers to dream big.
The student delegation was invited to lunch with World Bank representatives. (Supplied)
The students also visited the World Bank in Washington, DC, where they were invited for an informal lunch, followed by an elaborate session on Education and Health with leading World Bank officials, including Rifat Hasan, lead health specialist, Tracy Wilichowski, a World Bank analyst, and Laura Gregory, senior education specialist.
World Bank representatives, at the meeting, lauded the initiatives taken by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in the field of education, like Jagananna Ammavodi, Mana Badi Nadu Nedu, the introduction of English medium in schools, and the usage of bilingual textbooks.
The representatives expressed their desire to get more involved in the Andhra Pradesh government’s effort to invest in human capital. Later, they invited the students to throw in their ideas for making the engagement more effective in the future.
Kadapa Rathnakar, the special representative of the Andhra Pradesh government for North America, told South First, “Nine students of 11th grade and one ninth-grade student were selected to tour important institutions in the US.”
This selection was on the basis of merit of last year’s academic performance from different categories of government schools, he added.
Most of the students are from the Mathematics-Physics-Chemistry or Biology-Physics-Chemistry background, said Rathnakar.
On the first day, the students went to the United Nations Education Forum in New York on 17 September, he noted, adding that they told the international members of the forum how the Andhra Pradesh government was supporting them through the Mana Badi Nadu Nedu scheme.
Later, they visited Columbia University, the International Youth Festival in New York, and Niagara Falls.
The last visit was to the White House, as they were permitted to enter the premises before leaving for India on 27 September.
The Andhra Pradesh government school delegation proposed a five-point programme to the World Bank, which won instant appreciation when they visited.
The five programmes the students proposed are:
