New GO Could Close 13,000 Schools In Telangana: TEPC

The President and Secretaries of the Telangana Education Protection Committee (TEPC) - Professor K Chakradhara Rao, and Professor Haragopal and Professor K Lakshminarayana respectively - today demanded that the State government withdraw its recent orders adjusting teaching staff based on student strength, without first creating the necessary conditions to increase enrolment in the government schools.

In a statement, they expressed concern over the implementation of Government Order 1268/SER111-1/2024, issued by the Education Department on May 28. They said that the order was enforced without raising the education budget, introducing pre-primary education, or improving monitoring - the key demands raised earlier by TEPC as well as the student and teacher associations.

They warned that this policy could lead to the closure of more than 13,000 government schools across the State.

They also recalled that the current Chief Minister, who they claimed had came to power on the strength of civil society's campaign against the anti-education policies and autocratic rule of the previous BRS government, had earlier promised that teachers would be appointed in every village and thanda irrespective of student numbers. "However, after assuming power, he has gone back on that promise and is now paving the way for school closures by following in the footsteps of former CM K Chandrashekar Rao," they alleged.

As per the new orders, if a primary school has fewer than 60 students, only two teachers will be assigned. And the TEPC said that over 13,930 primary schools in the State fell into this category.

"The authorities must explain how two teachers can provide quality education in schools that cover five classes and 18 subjects. This will further erode educational standards and drive down student enrolment, resulting in more school closures," they said.

They alleged that the government's intent behind these orders was to accelerate the closure of schools and reallocate teachers.

The TEPC called upon teachers, lecturers, students, educationists and concerned citizens to prepare for a Statewide movement to oppose this decision and press for the withdrawal of the orders.