Motivate govt. school students or face hiccups in career: CM to IAS and IPS officers

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy instructed IAS and IPS officers to prioritise government schools by visiting them twice a week in their respective districts and interacting with students while resolving their issues directly.

Addressing students during the Children’s Day celebrations at LB Stadium here on Thursday, the Chief Minister warned that officers who neglect their duty to support government schools will face problems in terms of future promotions and transfer opportunities, as the government will not consider such officials for priority postings.

Highlighting recent efforts by the Congress government, Reddy explained numerous measures taken by them to elevate government schools in the state. These include infrastructure upgrades, recruitment of new teachers, and distribution of free textbooks and uniforms on the first day of the academic year.

He criticised the BRS regime and accused it of closing more than 5,000 government schools and depriving underprivileged communities in remote areas access to education.

The Chief Minister expressed delight in celebrating the completion of one year in office on Children’s Day and cited former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s legacy in making education accessible to all. He pointed out that the state government has allocated over seven per cent of the state's budget to education, promoted 20,000 teachers and managed the transfer process for an additional 35,000 educators.

Demonstrating its commitment to education, the government has also conducted DSC exams and recruited over 11,000 teachers for vacant posts across the state in 65 days.

In an initiative to support school facilities, the state government announced free power supply for government schools and committed `150 crore annually for maintenance staff, including attenders, sweepers, and sanitation workers. Furthermore, the he highlighted the swift appointment of vice-chancellors to universities, a role left unfilled by the BRS administration, and promised to fill both teaching and non-teaching staff vacancies soon.

Reddy announced the formation of a State Education Commission to address student issues, marking a first in India. While 26 lakh students are studying in 26,854 government schools, a significant number of 36 lakh are currently enrolled in 11,000 private schools, a trend he vowed to reverse by salvaging the reputation of government schools.

He urged government officials, elected representatives and teachers to reflect on the factors contributing to the decline of public schools despite having highly qualified educators. He instructed district collectors to closely monitor the functioning of schools twice a week.

Revanth Reddy warned that officials found supplying substandard food or essentials in school hostels would face strict legal action. He highlighted the government’s recent increases in mess and cosmetic charges for hostels, pledging a 40 per cent hike to improve meal quality and personal care for students. This follows a decade of stagnant rates, he said.

Reddy took a dig at his predecessor K. Chandrasekhar Rao for utter lack of engagement with students during his tenure. He recalled tragic incidents under KCR's regime, such as the Masaipet train accident in which 30 students were killed, and how Rao failed to take action to address the tragedy that affected school children.

In contrast, Reddy vowed to be accessible to students and proactive in addressing their concerns.

He expressed deep concern at rising instances of drug abuse in Telangana, specifically among youth. He urged students to pledge against drug use, emphasising the importance of staying focused on education and self-improvement. To foster a culture of athletic achievement, the government has announced plans for a Young India Sports University, aimed at nurturing future Olympians and identifying talented young athletes.

The government has also introduced Young India Integrated Residential Schools, designed to provide international-standard education for students from BC, SC, ST and minority communities.

Revanth Reddy affirmed the government’s commitment to these students' progress and stated that Telangana is on the “golden path” to development, overcoming barriers to ensure that every child has access to quality education and growth opportunities.