Will Telangana's new education policy lead to significant reforms?

Hyderabad, Sep 5 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Telangana, A. Revanth Reddy, announced on Friday that the upcoming education policy aims to implement significant reforms within the educational framework to aid in the revitalization of the state. He encouraged the entire teaching community to collaborate with the government in this effort.

During his address at the Teachers' Day Celebrations, the Chief Minister emphasized that he has retained the education portfolio personally to ensure the revival of this critical sector, which he described as having deteriorated during the decade-long governance of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

“While many Chief Ministers have controlled departments like Revenue, Finance, and Irrigation, I have taken a hands-on approach with education,” the CM responded to critiques from opposition leaders regarding his direct involvement in education governance. “My strong rebuttal is that I am already rejuvenating the education sector by rolling out numerous reforms,” he stated.

The Chief Minister criticized the previous BRS administration for failing to deliver on its promise of free education from KG to PG for underprivileged families, as well as halting teacher recruitment since 2017.

“Our people’s government has successfully recruited 11,000 teachers within just 55 days of taking office. The last government failed to increase the diet and cosmetic allowances. The education sector had been treated like a lucrative business, leading to the complete dysfunction of universities due to a lack of teaching staff. Renowned institutions such as Osmania University and Kakatiya University lost their former prestige under the previous regime,” he remarked.

Commending teachers for their crucial role during the Telangana movement, the Chief Minister noted that it was the educators who popularized the slogan Jai Telangana across rural areas. He assured the teaching community that the people’s government will actively address their concerns.

CM Revanth Reddy also pointed out the necessity for a new education policy, for which an official committee has already been established.

He asserted that the government's initiatives are yielding positive outcomes. While student enrollment in government schools had previously plummeted, there has been an increase of 300,000 students since the new government took charge. Currently, approximately 24 lakh students are enrolled in 27,000 government schools, while 34 lakh students attend 10,000 private schools.

The Chief Minister highlighted that government educators are not only well-qualified but also socially accountable. He stressed that beyond salaries, essential facilities must be provided within government schools. The management of schools has been delegated to self-help groups under the Amma Adarsh Schools initiative, with an allocation of Rs 130 crore for this purpose.

Stressing that education is pivotal in transforming students' futures, the Chief Minister underscored the vital role teachers play in fostering a bright future for the youth.

He urged teachers to join students for mid-day meals in schools to identify and rectify any issues. “Let us unite in our commitment to elevate government schools to compete with corporate institutions,” he added.

To enhance skills, the government is establishing Young India Residential Schools, modeled as the best in the world, and has created a Skills University aimed at equipping unemployed youth with essential skills.

“We have also upgraded 65 ITIs to ATCs in collaboration with the Tata Company. The government is setting up a Young India Sports University and a Sports Academy to bolster the nation's sports prestige and identify talent for nurturing top athletes. Teachers are encouraged to recognize and support interested students in sports within rural communities, highlighting that excelling in sports can lead to a brighter future,” he said.

The Chief Minister remarked on the crucial responsibility of educators in raising awareness about drug abuse among students. He noted that the government has established the Eagle Force to combat drug trafficking and cannabis smuggling in Telangana, he added.