In a significant move to overhaul the academic landscape, the Telangana government has announced it will soon roll out a new State Education Policy. The policy will be aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy stated on Thursday.
Expert Committee Formed for Policy Framework
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who also holds the education portfolio, revealed that a committee of experts has been constituted to formulate the new state-specific education policy. He shared this information during an interaction with Himachal Pradesh's Education Minister, Rohit Thakur, who called on him in Hyderabad. The meeting served as a platform to discuss key educational reforms initiated by the Telangana government.
Focus on Integrated Residential Schools and Infrastructure
A major highlight of the discussion was the ambitious Young India Integrated Residential Schools (YIIRS) project. CM Reddy detailed that each of these residential schools is being built on a sprawling 25-acre campus at a cost of Rs 200 crore. These institutions aim to foster social integration by educating students from all communities, including SC, ST, BC, and minorities, under one roof.
Setting an ambitious target, the Chief Minister directed officials to complete the construction of one YIIRS each for boys and girls in every Assembly constituency within three years. He specifically instructed that in the first phase, more schools should be allocated for girls. Furthermore, authorities were asked to explore constructing solar kitchens in these schools under the central government's PM-KUSUM scheme.
Wide-Ranging Reforms: From Pre-Primary to Skill Development
The proposed reforms extend beyond residential schools. The Telangana government plans to provide pre-primary education and strengthen government schools to help them compete with private institutions. A special focus was placed on rural areas, with discussions on providing transportation facilities for pre-primary students.
Skill development also received attention. The meeting covered plans to upgrade Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into Advanced Training Centres (ATCs) and to establish an ATC in every Assembly constituency, aiming to enhance vocational training and employability.
Minister Rohit Thakur from Himachal Pradesh expressed keen interest in the integrated school model and requested a detailed report on the concept for potential emulation.
Statewide Meal Scheme and Kitchen Review
In a separate review meeting on education, CM Reddy evaluated the breakfast and lunch facility run by NGOs in government schools within his Kodangal constituency. Representatives from the Akshaya Patra Foundation informed him they are prepared to implement the meal scheme across Telangana if provided with adequate space and support.
In response, the Chief Minister directed officials to formulate plans for a scalable model. He proposed setting up one centralized kitchen for every two constituencies to ensure timely and efficient delivery of meals to all students statewide.
This comprehensive set of initiatives signals the Telangana government's committed push to create a more inclusive, robust, and modern education system, drawing inspiration from the NEP while addressing local needs.
