Education sector in A.P. is in crisis, says Sailajanath

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader and former Minister Sake Sailajanath has criticised the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Education Minister Nara Lokesh, alleging that the education sector in Andhra Pradesh is in a deep crisis.

Addressing a press conference at the YSRCP central office near here on Friday, Mr.  Sailajanath accused the government of neglecting students and promoting corporate interests. Over ₹6,400 crore in fee reimbursement and hostel dues remains unpaid, causing widespread distress among students. “There are ₹4,200 crore pending fee reimbursement dues across six quarters and ₹2,200 crore in Vasathi Deevena arrears for two years,” he alleged.

Mr. Sailajanath called Lokesh’s statements on reimbursements contradictory and misleading. “Despite claims of disbursing ₹788 crore and releasing more funds, students haven’t received a single rupee,” he alleged, branding Lokesh’s promises as “blatant lies.”

Highlighting the previous YSRCP government’s record, he said ₹18,663 crore was spent on higher education and ₹4,275 crore on Vasathi Deevena. He credited the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy for initiating the transformative fee reimbursement policy.

He also criticised that recent policy changes that categorise students as non-local based on where they studied Intermediate. On the Talliki Vandanam scheme, he alleged deception, noting that despite promises of ₹15,000, many mothers received only ₹8,000–9,000.

Mr. Sailajanath accused the government of favouring private institutions linked to its leadership, marginalising poor, Dalit, and minority students. He questioned the Chief Minister’s planned visit to Singapore, suggesting misplaced priorities amid student distress.