KCR STRESSES NEED FOR A GOOD EDUCATION POLICY

Intervening during question hour in the Telangana State  Assembly , the Chief Minister also took pot shots at the earlier  UPA Government for the present mess in the education sector. The model school system and the right to education policy formulated by the then UPA Government has many loopholes leading to numerous problems, he observed.

            The Chief Minister pointed out that under the right to education act, 25 percent seats in private schools should be earmarked for the poor students. If this is strictly implemented,  50 to 60 percent government schools would have to be shut down, and  40,000 teachers would be rendered jobless, he pointed out and added that even scrapping unrecognized schools would not only affect many students, but  even the large number of teachers would suffer.

            KCR also felt the need for deliberating on  the fee reimbursement policy as the undue delay in making  payments was not only affecting the college managements but also forcing the students to the streets. He had also issued necessary instructions to the concerned department to ensure that by April-May there should be no arrears pending in this respect.

            Stating that all these aspects concerning education needed a thorough discussion, the



Chief urged the Assembly Speaker to allot time for the same so that all the members from both sides could discuss and make suggestions based on which the government  could formulate a good policy. In the meantime, the officials of the education department were directed to prepare a white paper  in this regard, he explained.

On a suggestion by the BJP Floor leader  Dr. K Laxman  that even there was need for discussion on the health policy, the Chief Minister agreed and appealed to the Speaker to allot the required time and date during the current session for discussion on education and health policies.

Action Against Pvt Schools—Exorbitant Fee

Earlier replying to the main question, Deputy Chief Minister K. Srihari, who is in charge of the education portfolio, assured that the government was taking measures to ensure the fee structure in private schools. Complaints were received from parents association  that  some  schools were  charging exorbitant fees. Already notices were issued to 12 international schools in this regard, he said and added that soon a meeting of parents associations and school managements would be called  to discuss the fee structure. High fee collection by private schools would  be viewed very seriously, he added/

            MIM Floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi wanted stern action including closure of unrecognized schools. He observed that as many as 400 schools which have no recognition were functioning undeterred, and demanded their closure immediately. TDP member R. Krishniah wanted the required enactment to streamline the fee structure in private schools, besides implementation of  a policy of ‘one management one school’.