Hyderabad: The state government on Tuesday constituted the Telangana Education Commission to address the steady decline in educational standards from the pre-primary level to the universities, as evidenced by recent surveys and studies. The commission is expected to conduct a study and submit its report to the government.
According to the government order issued by the higher education department, the establishment of the commission was driven by the urgent need to revamp the educational sector, which has shown concerning trends such as poor student outcomes, declining research output at the university level, and inadequate skill development among graduates.
These issues had been highlighted in the National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021, raising alarms about the state’s ability to meet current market requirements.
The commission will act as a dedicated think tank, focusing on critical areas of improvement and reform within the educational system. The commission's primary objectives include advising on policy-making, developing comprehensive education policies, and ensuring the quality of education from pre-primary to higher education, including technical education, the order said.
The commission will also engage in brainstorming, ideation, pilot studies, and exposure visits to inform policy notes, guidelines, and rules.
Key areas of study for the commission include the universalisation of early childhood education, ensuring quality education in schools, integration of employability skills with higher education, and fostering egalitarian values among students to prepare them as responsible global citizens, according to a statement. The commission will also address any other educational matters referred to it by the government.
According to the order, the commission will have a chairperson, three members specialised in education, and a member secretary of the rank of head of the department, all appointed by the government. The commission is expected to hold wide consultations with stakeholders and may engage experts. The tenure for non-official members is set at two years.
Funding for the commission will come from the state Budget, grants, and contributions from stakeholders, including private sector partnerships, the statement said. The financial resources will cover salaries, administrative costs, and expenses related to the commission’s operations, including consultations and expert engagements.
