The Save Education Committee has demanded that the Telangana government stop closure of government schools in the name of rationalization of schools.
Save Education Committee submitted a memorandum to Deputy Chief Minister (Education) Kadiam Srihari in this regard on Monday. In the memorandum, the Committee has stated that the G.O.No.6 issued to close the schools was not proper and opined that closure of the schools is nothing but anti-people’s decision. The committee stated that instead of closing down the schools, the government could develop them.
The Committee said the successive governments were weakening government schools and encouraging corporate educational institutions resulting in political leaders, professors and teachers sending their children to private and corporate schools and colleges. “Due to this attitude, the government schools and colleges, in which the poor children pursue education, have been neglected for several years resulting in the reduction in number of students in the government schools.
Committee president Prof. Chakradhara Rao, general secretary Prof. Haragopal and organising secretary Prof. K Laxminarayana have demanded that the State government continue primary schools in every village and hamlet, irrespective of the strength of students and introduce upper-primary education. The government must also continue up to Class IV in every primary school. Classes be run from Class V to VIII in every upper primary school and in high school.
They also demanded that the State government sanction posts of teachers for every class and subject besides a headmaster to improve quality education. The same policy should be implemented in every aided school, they said, adding that watchman, sweeper must be appointed on regular basis in every school. They insisted that the government deny permission to new private schools and close down those which have no recognition. They demanded that the government take the schools, which have recognition but no teachers, into their custody as per Andhra Pradesh Education Act (1/1994)
The Committee further demanded that the government increase high school classes up to 12th class and provide residential education in those schools. The government set up ITI and polytechnic colleges in every district on residential basis. The government has to control the private and corporate colleges like Chaitanya, Narayana, Nalanda and Kamineni and take them into the hands of government under Section 19(6) and introduce common school system.
The committee wanted the State government to appoint junior lecturers, degree lecturers and vocational lecturers and teaching and non-teaching staff on the regular basis. It has to regularize services of contract lecturers, guest lecturers following the social justice. It has to provide free hostel facility and mess and scholarships to the students. The government has to conduct student elections in universities and colleges. The government has to set up comprehensive universities in every district and develop them to get national recognition providing adequate infrastructure.
The Committee also demanded the public representatives, government officials to send their children to government schools and colleges. (NSS)