Nellore: Education minister Nara Lokesh officially inaugurated the renovated VR (Venkatagiri Raja’s) Municipal High School in Nellore city on Monday. The minister received a grand welcome from local leaders, the school staff and students. Established in 1875 on a 12-acre campus in the heart of Nellore, VR School has a rich legacy, with many prominent personalities being among its alumni. It however faced closure some time ago. The school has been given a new lease of life with a Rs.15 crore modernization project supported by the NCC Group. Ministers Lokesh and Narayana jointly unveiled the newly built school building that was developed to international standards. They also launched several other infrastructure projects funded by the DSR Group and VPR Foundation. These included a girls' high school in Moolapet and upgrades of the RSR municipal high school. During the visit, Lokesh took a tour of the school and interacted with students and teachers. He signed a handcrafted art piece made by students and inaugurated the Hydroponics Lab—the second of its kind, the other being in Coimbatore. Students explained to the minister how plants can be grown without soil, by using water and coconut husk. During his classroom interaction, Lokesh asked a fifth-grade student about the meaning of the "Wall of Gratitude." When she answered that it’s about showing thanks to those who helped us grow, he emotionally shared how his mother played the most important role in shaping his life with discipline. Lokesh went through the school's ultra-modern classrooms and facilities. These included the Activity Room, Chemistry Lab, Biology Lab, Computer Lab, Hydroponics Lab, Robotics Lab, Library and the Dance, Music and Drawing rooms. He interacted with teachers and took photos with the students and staff. Later, he inaugurated the sports ground and played cricket and volleyball with the students. While engaging with students, a 7th-grade student, Parneek Sai, asked the minister how education could change the world. Lokesh responded, “Education is the only way to rise out of poverty.” “It helps you grow and become something meaningful. Education and immigration are powerful tools. I hope you start your own company one day and give jobs to at least ten people,” he said. Minister Nara Lokesh said his true satisfaction will come when “admissions close at every government school with a ‘no seats available’ board at the gate.” He said the government has strengthened the education system by establishing 9,600 schools with one teacher per class. As part of values-based learning, the minister noted that the writings of scholar Chaganti have been included in textbooks. He also announced the launch of "Green Passports" to educate children on the importance of trees, aligning with the Deputy Chief Minister’s vision of environmental responsibility. In a touching gesture, Lokesh adopted two young boys—CH Penchalaiah and V. Venkateshwarlu—who had sought education after being forced into begging. He ensured their admission to VR School and pledged to personally support their education. He also mandated biannual mega parent-teacher meetings to strengthen school–home collaboration and monitor student progress holistically. The education minister noted that the VR Institutions were alma mater to leaders like former vice president M Venkaiah Naidu, playback singer SP Balasubhramanyam and politicians like Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy and Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy. Lokesh felicitated Nellore MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, Devireddy Sudhakar Reddy and NCC group director Raju for extending their support under the P-4 initiative. Ministers Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, NMD Farooq, MLA’s Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, Vemireddy Prashanti Reddy and Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy were present. In the evening, Lokesh offered prayers at Bara Shaheed Dargah where the famous Rottela Panduga was in progress and picked up Arogya Roti (Health Roti). Lokesh said, “I picked the Arogya Roti with a prayer that my father, N Chandrababu Naidu, remains healthy—because the state will prosper only if he as chief minister stays healthy.” Highlighting the energy in the current cabinet, he said, “50 per cent of our ministers are young and everyone is performing exceptionally well.”