BRS working president KT Rama Rao demanded that the State government immediately clear fee reimbursement and scholarship dues, failing which the party would launch a State-wide stir in association with the affected students.
Rama Rao held the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government responsible for the dire condition of students and also educational institutions, due to its inefficiency.
“The Congress government neglected both the public and private educational institutions, pushing students into distress. The government failed to address the issues plaguing the education sector on various fronts, due to absence of a dedicated Education Minister in the Cabinet and its lack of priorities,” he said.
The Congress government was ruining the education sector due to its failure to provide basic amenities to Gurukul residential welfare schools, institutions meant to offer quality education to underprivileged students, he said, adding that the State government was simultaneously weakening the residential schools and also making education in private institutions inaccessible for the poor students.
He criticised the government for its inability to pay building rents for these schools, leaving students without adequate facilities and compromising their security.
“It’s disgraceful that landlords of these private properties housing the schools
are locking up the premises due to unpaid rent, which is unprecedented,” he remarked.
The former Minister also condemned the State’s failure to release funds for fee reimbursement and scholarships to private college students. He said many poor and middle-class students, dependent on government assistance, were now unable to continue their higher education.
“It is a shame that private colleges across the State, are shutting down indefinitely due to the government’s inability to clear fee reimbursement dues. The government is being ignorant of the warnings issued by these college managements,” he said.
Rama Rao pointed out that students who have already completed their studies were being denied certificates by college managements due to unpaid fees. Students who were currently pursing education, were also left stranded as they protest on the streets, demanding their rightful dues.
“The government has remained indifferent while lakhs of students suffer,” he lamented.
He questioned how the Congress government, which plans to spend Rs 1.5 lakh crore on projects like the beautification of Musi River, had no funds for students’ education.
He reminded that after the State formation, the then TRS (now BRS) government cleared Rs 2,000 crore of fee reimbursement arrears left by the previous Congress government.