Amaravati: N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, on Thursday stressed the need for periodic curriculum reforms and restructuring of skill development programmes to improve education standards and employment opportunities.

Reviewing the Education and Skill Development departments on the second day of the sixth District Collectors' Conference in Amaravati, he emphasised aligning the syllabus with present needs and development priorities.

“There should be periodic changes in the curriculum in tune with the times, and the syllabus must align with present needs and development priorities,” Naidu said.

He directed officials to conduct studies in consultation with the National Council of Educational Research and Training, various central government institutions and universities while reviewing the curriculum followed by national-level educational institutions.

Naidu also instructed district collectors to focus on implementing the “Akshara Andhra” programme aimed at strengthening adult education across the state and to assess the state's position in national and international education standards.

He observed that Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are currently at the forefront in higher education.

The chief minister alleged that during the tenure of the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party government between 2019 and 2024, even teacher recruitment had stalled, affecting the education sector.

Naidu said the skill development system should be restructured to improve employment opportunities for youth and suggested that convocation ceremonies in universities be conducted in a more prestigious manner to make them memorable for students.

He also directed officials to examine ratings of primary, secondary and higher educational institutions across the state.

During the conference, the chief minister also launched a millet-based tribal food menu titled “Araku Kouni” to promote traditional diets and tribal culinary heritage in the state.

The menu, featuring millet-based dishes sourced from tribal communities of Alluri Sitarama Raju district, includes items such as korra payasam, ragi chapati, samala pulihora, kantla ambali, corn vada and toor dal curry.

The initiative, supported by the Indian Culinary Institute in Tirupati and the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department, aims to promote tribal experiential tourism by documenting indigenous ingredients and traditional cooking methods.

The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation will introduce the menu in Haritha restaurants across the district and later expand it to other tourism centres in the state.