Parents Raise Concerns Over Academic Stress, School Fees at TEC Hearing

With exams on the horizon, many parents expressed concerns about academic stress. A mother from the Old City shared how her 10th-grade daughter, who was forced to start her syllabus during the summer holidays, felt overwhelmed.

“She says, ‘I want to play, I want to become something, but I don’t have time.’ These studies are very stressful,” the mother explained, at a public hearing on Tuesday organised by the Telangana Education Commission (TEC).

Another parent, Radhika, called for a reduction in the syllabus, highlighting that even nursery, LKG and UKG students face too much content. “The syllabus should be age-appropriate,” she said.

The lack of sports facilities was another major concern, with a government school parent pointing out the absence of physical education teachers. Parents from the Old City also mentioned that many private schools in the area lack playgrounds.

Many parents also voiced frustration over the lack of affordable private school options. "Parents want their children to study in private schools, but there aren’t enough available slots. We need equal fee structures to make private schools more accessible,” said Sangeeta, a concerned parent.

TEC member Prof. P.L. Vishveshwar Rao acknowledged these issues and stated that the commission had already submitted a report on fee regulation. “The government is planning to introduce an Act in the Assembly to regulate school fees,” he said. “Once the Act is implemented, such excessive fee hikes will no longer be legal.”

Concerns about government school hostels were raised during the hearing. One parent from the Old City alleged that food quality improved only when visitors arrived, while another pointed out delays in admissions due to Aadhaar card requirements. Although Aadhaar is not mandatory, parents reported that principals had denied admission to students who did not possess an Aadhaar card.

A student raised the issue of safety during commutes. “Most treat us cruelly on buses. It would be great if dedicated buses were allocated for students,” the student said.Speaking at the event, TEC chairman Akunuri Murali pointed out that among 36 states and Union Territories, Telangana ranked 35th in education. “If we’ve reached this point, there is something seriously wrong,” he said.

He held the prevalence of small, single-teacher schools and multi-grade classrooms as contributing to the 'learning crisis' that required immediate attention. Hyderabad collector Anudeep Durishetty said the TEC was engaging with stakeholders and working on several reports, including one focused on improving the quality of education. He acknowledged the nationwide learning crisis and emphasised the need for collective action.

“We cannot solve these problems alone. We need cooperation from parents, teachers, NGOs and civil society,” he stressed. The collector also said he would like to work in collaboration with the TEC to identify certain issues.