This part of Andhra Desa, comprising the present Guntur district and surroundings was once the seat of great learning established by the famous Acharya Nagarjuna. The trend continued in the later period also for blossoming literary and cultural activities contributed by the great personalities such as Tikkana Somayaji, Narayana Tirtha and Siddhendra Yogi. Guntur is famous for education and its fragrance has spread through out the world. In every nation, there is at least one person who is educated in Guntur delivering quality services in his respective field.
The famous educationist, humanist, philanthropist Vidwan Sri Gogineni Kanakaiah (now at 93) felt the need and the necessity for a College of Education, which can cater to the needs of all sections of the society. He was not in a position to support several deserving prospective teacher students who approached him for help, for an admission into Colleges of Education in Guntur.
Against this backdrop, the idea of establishing a College of Education, which is open to all social categories was thought about. The time was also ripe and propitious as the then Government of Andra Pradesh was considering granting of new Colleges of Education in the light of shortage of trained teachers required to meet the demand at primary and secondary school stages.
At this juncture, Rayapati Venkata Ranga Rao College of Education was ushered into existence in the open category under the aegis of Nagarjuna Education Society, during the academic year 1983-84. This has happened with the munificient support of five times Member of Parliament and a devout business magnet Sri Rayapati Sambasiva Rao and the consistent efforts of the Nagarjuna Education Society, the sponsoring agency of the College. With this, the dream of Vidwan Sri Gogineni Kanakaiah has become a reality.
The Inauguration
The college has the distinction of having its first B.Ed. programme inaugurated by Dr. K. Raja Rama Mohana Rao, the then esteemed Vice-Chancellor of Nagarjuna University, on the forenoon of 5th January 1984 in the presence of the distinguished elites of the town. Since then, the college has become a landmark in the history of quality teacher education in Andhra Pradesh.
The Management
The Nagarjuna Education Society, which is running successfully a Degree and PG College, a Public School, a High School, an Engineering College, a Law College, a Pharmacy College, a Nursing College, etc., is the sponsoring body of the College of Education.
Sri Jagarlamudi Chandramouli (1983-1987) as the President and Sri Paladugu Lakshmana Rao as the Secretary and Correspondent (1983-1993) effectively laid down solid foundations for the success story of this college and it was efficiently followed and further strengthened by Dr. Kasaraneni Sadasiva Rao (1987-2003) and Dr. Rayapati Srinivas (1994-1997), the ajaatha satruvulu in every walk of life, who stepped into the shoes of the former ones respectively.
Dr. Kondabolu Basavapunnaiah (since 2003), the common man’s popular doctor, a disciplinarian to the core and the visionary educationist as President and Sri Gadde Mangaiah (since 1997) as the Secretary and Correspondent, with their optimistic approach, are leading the organization to the pinnacle of the pyramid of teacher education.
The luminary in the elite, the elite in the social reformers and the educationist of great repute, Vidwan Sri Gogineni Kanakaiah, is the Treasurer of Nagarjuna Education Society and also the College of Education since its inception in 1983.
Under the able administration of the affectionate and benevolent management, the college has acquired economic stability, good academic excellence and memorable examination results.
The Infrastructure
The college is having a huge building housing B.Ed., M.Ed. courses with excellent physical facilities.
The college library, spread over 2500 sq. ft, is with a reading facility for about 100 students with all comfort. The library has more than 8000 books including text books, encyclopaedias, reference books, etc., In addition to several Indian and Foreign journals and periodicals and many newspapers.
The Psychology laboratory has every equipment and material required for effective instruction and efficient educational research.
The Science laboratory is providing the holistic support to the students in attending to the successful transaction of instruction in the classrooms by the prospective teachers.
The state-of-art Computer laboratory with 25 multimedia computers connected by Local Area Network (NAN) and unlimited broadband Internet is providing excellent computer education to D.Ed., B.Ed. and M.Ed. students and supporting enduring research opportunities to M.Phil. and Ph.D. students.
The Educational Technology laboratory with LCD projector, projectors of different kinds and other audio-video equipment is bringing the world to the forefront of the classrooms and students.
The Physical Education facilities available in the college are strengthening the minds and bodies of the student teachers and student teacher educators.
All the class rooms, seminar halls, laboratories and other rooms are thoroughly furnished as per the norms and the requirements of NCTE to put the students in a convenient position to learn to the maximum level.
The principals
Sri P. Subbu Sundaram, a practical man to the core and an educationist to the best, who got education from U.K. served as the founder principal (1983-93) of the college and laid strong foundations in teaching by sowing seeds of values in the faculty of the college.
Prof. S.C. Sarma, an eminent educationist and a stalwart in teacher education, joined the college as Principal and Professor (1994-97) immediately after his retirement as Professor and Dean, Department of Education, Andhra University on the request of the management to strengthen the quality of education in the then offered B.Ed. and M.Ed. courses and he did his best in improving the quality of instruction and research in the college.
Dr. Gudivada Prabhavathi, an able administrator and a reputed poet in child literature, the college has grown to heights with the conduct of Seminars, Conferences, university supported faculty Meetings, Spot Valuations, etc., with excellent efficiency. As Chairperson, Board of Studies in Education, Acharya Nagarjuna University, she did yeoman service in the field of teacher education.
Prof.Digumarti Bhaskara Rao is known to the students and teachers of teacher education as popular teacher, researcher, author and editor. Several of his text books, reference books & encyclopaedias have formed the part curricula of various teacher education courses across the globe. He was conferred with several prestigious national and international awards and his biography was published in many bibliographical reference books published in India, UK&USA. He has participated in many national and international conferences and has published more than 375 text books, reference books, encyclopaedia and about 400 papers/articles worldwide.
The present Principal Prof. M. Ravi Kumar, Member, Board of Studies in Education, Acharya Nagarjuna University, is a popular mathematics teacher educator. He is an expert in teaching mathematics methodology for teacher eligibility tests and teacher recruitment tests. He is an approved research director of Acharya Nagarjuna University for guiding M.Phil. and Ph.D. scholars in the faculty of Education.
The Staff
The college, since its inception in 1983, has recruited qualified and committed staff to serve it effectively and efficiently. The staff, well-versed in teacher education, contributed their mite for the overall development of the college as well as the prospective teachers.
The former principals Sri P. Subbu Sundaram, Prof. S.C. Sarma, Prof. Gudivada Prabhavathi and Prof. Digumarti Bhaskar Rao received a great deal of applause for their devoted administrative practices and programmes they have conducted.
Dr. Gudivada Prabhavathi, Dr.Digumarti Bhaskara Rao, former principals and Dr. A.S. Rama Krishna, former staff member, ex-M.L.C have visited foreign countries and presented their views in various seminars, conferences, workshops, etc., conducted at global level. Dr. Gudivada Prabhavathi, as the Chairperson of Board of Studies in Education, A.N.U., has successfully conducted many B.Ed. Practical Examinations, B.Ed. Spot Valuations, Meetings connected with Curriculum of B.Ed., M.Ed., M.Phil. and Ph.D. courses. Prof. D. Bhaskara Rao, as the Chairperson of Board of studies in Education and Dean, Faculty of Education played a key role in the field of Education in Acharya Nagarjuna University area.
The present principal Prof. M. Ravi Kumar is guiding 11 research scholars in Education and produced 3 Ph.D.’s in Education. He has been providing guidance to principals and managements of some schools in the matters of faculty recruitment and faculty training.
The staff members Smt. Ch. Jalaja Kumari, Dr. G.V. Siva Lakshmi, Dr. K. Venkateswarlu are so popular in the field of teacher education to become role models to many a student and teacher population. Dr. G.V. Siva Lakshmi, as the Chairperson of Board of Studies in Education has been playing a key role in matters concerned with B.Ed., and M.Ed. courses of Acharya Nagarjuna University.
The Courses
The college was started with a humble beginning in 1983 with 100 seats in B.Ed. course per annum and the student strength increased to 160 in 1987. Later, M.Ed. course was added to the existing B.Ed. course in 1991 with an intake of 30 students. Later the intake of M.Ed. course increased to 40 + 6 = 46 per annum. The college has started a Research Centre in 2003 to provide research facilities to the teacher educators. The Research Centre was inaugurated by Prof. L.Venugopala Reddy, the then Vice-Chancellor of the Nagarjuna University in the presence of Prof. B. Venkataramaiah, the then Chairman of Southern Regional Committee, NCTE, Bangalore and Sri M. Vasudev, the then Regional Director of NCTE, Bangalore, the Secretaries and Principals of all Colleges of Education affiliated to Andhra and Acharya Nagarjuna Universities.
The college discontinued its M.Ed. course in 2022 in view of lack demand and prospects of course. At present, the college is running only B.Ed. Course with an intake of 3 units.
The Students
The college gets B.Ed. candidates from the Common Entrance Test conducted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and M.Ed., M. Phil. and Ph.D. students from the Entrance Tests conducted by Acharya Nagarjuna University.
The college is known to have disciplined students. However, they are at the time of entry, but by the time they exit they are moulded to be well disciplined, expected of by the Society, from the teachers.
The Results
The college, since its inception, has creditable record of results in both B.Ed. and M.Ed. courses.
Not only in the results of the examinations conducted by the University, but also in DSC examinations and other Competitive Examinations, the college students excelled and got employment. They have outnumbered any other College of Education in getting employment and settling down in life. This speaks of the quality training and education provided to the students in this college.
