The education sector would remain a priority in every annual Budget under the present government, with allocations to be gradually increased to 15%, said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday.

“Although the Telangana Education Commission recommended 17%, we could not increase it so suddenly from 7.6%. But it is our priority, and it will increase every year,” said Mr.Reddy, who is also the Education Minister of the State. However, he stressed that the 2026-27 academic year will see admissions in government schools starting from pre-primary sections, one of the other major recommendations.

The CM was inaugurating the ‘Exclusive Education Week’ celebrations, as part of his 99-day governance action plan, Praja Palana – Pragathi Pranalika, organised as a mega event in the presence of teachers, students, administrators and senior government leaders at L.B. Stadium here.

The event was marked by the laying of the foundation stone for works worth ₹1,700 crore towards the construction of 11 integrated school complexes, upgrade of existing schools and additional classrooms, including those for pre-primary sections in the districts of Medchal-Malkajgiri, Sangareddy and Rangareddy, which constitute Hyderabad’s Core Urban Region Economy (CURE).

In his 35-minute speech, Mr. Reddy assured and encouraged the State’s teachers and parents, while inspiring students to build Telangana into a national model in public education. “Spending on education is an investment in the future, and only education can transform Telangana. That is why I kept the education portfolio with myself, and when I review the education sector, I am the Education Minister,” he stressed .

Mr. Reddy listed the initiatives introduced by the Congress government since December 2023 and drew a contrast with the earlier 10-year rule of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi. These included the recruitment of over 11,000 teachers, DSC notifications, teacher transfers, revision of diet and cosmetic charges for hostel students, Young India Residential Schools to end caste-based segregation, and, more recently, the first-ever global exchange programme for teachers to Finland, along with the NITI Aayog’s recommendations.

He said the State government could even send 500 teachers every year for global programmes so that they can learn and implement new practices in the State. He asserted that teachers play a crucial role in building society, and that teaching is a responsibility driven by emotion, and is not merely a job or burden.

At the closing ceremony, Mr. Reddy gave away cash prizes to student achievers in sports and exams, as well as to best-performing teachers.

The week-long celebrations will include events and activities in every district, to showcase the progress and as a resolve to provide better learning facilities, improve school infrastructure, strengthen academic support systems and reflect the government’s vision.

Adviser (Public Affairs) K. Keshava Rao, Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, D. Sridhar Babu, Mohammed Azharuddin, Secretary (Education) Yogita Rana, and vice-chancellors of various State universities were present.