Free Education for BC, SC, ST, Minorities Till Inter

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao today directed officials to expedite work on providing free education up to the 12th class to BC, SC, ST, minority and physically-disabled students by ensuring 1,190 residential schools - 10 in each Assembly segment - across the state.

At a high-level review meeting on the free KG-to-PG education scheme implementation at Secretariat with his deputy and Education Minister Kadiam Srihari, TSPSC Chairman G Chakrapani and others, KCR asked the officials to prepare a comprehensive education policy that ensures free admission and teaching up to the 12th class to members of all the poor sections and classes.

The students would study in rural areas under the guardianship of their parents up to class 4, and English medium would be a must for them from class 5 onwards, he added.

Of the targeted 1,190 residential schools, 668 residential schools were currently functioning on the lines of a social welfare system, and 522 more needed to begin with some changes, KCR said.

Also, as the minorities had only 21 of the 3,000 hostels in the state, the girls of that community were dropping out from pursuing higher education due to lack of facilities, the CM added.

"We can overcome this problem by setting up one residential school and one hostel in each district, and one hostel for dalit girls in each Assembly segment," he opined.

KCR also expressed concern that different schools had different menus, rates and budgets for the food being served to the students, who must all get adequate food meeting certain standards in a buffet system.

The officials should also focus on giving guidance and direction to the students for further education after completing the 12th class, KCR said.