98% Education dept budget spent on salaries; Telangana for complete overhaul of system to meet international standards: CM Revanth

Telangana Government has decided to go for an overhaul of education system bringing in comprehensive changes through a new education policy in the coming days.

The new policy is being designed to ensure that it contributes to enhancing employability of youth and in turn, for poverty alleviation, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said seeking feedback and suggestions from experts and those in the field for formulation of the new education policy.

He recalled that Osmania and Kakatiya universities played a key role in shaping the careers of students in the past. However, the existing system was not matching the requirements of international standards that were introduced after opening up of the economy.

Over 1.1 lakh engineering students graduate every year and only 15% them were able to secure jobs. The role of the Government in education sector was on the decline as could be seen from the fact that 98% of the ₹21,000 crore budgetary allocation was being spent on salaries of the staff.

Stressing the need for a complete change in the system for meeting the emerging requirements, he sought suggestions from experts on the new policy which was aimed at providing an assured future to 75 lakh youth. In the process, efforts should be made to ensure that the Telangana education policy would become role mode for the country.

Number of students in Telangana govt and pvt schools

The Chief Minister admitted that there were problems in school education system which had 34 lakh students studying in 11,000 private schools and another 18 lakh in 27,000 government schools. The Government had accordingly decided to usher in total changes in the system from I to XII standards. The Central Government was requested to exempt the loans mobilised for improving and strengthening the education sector from the purview of the FRBM norms. “I am prepared to face any challenge politically if the new policy benefits students and society,” he said.