Poor quality of government schools and the rising cost of private education are putting an increasing burden on families in Telangana, and despite waiting through successive governments, the condition of government schools remained a serious concern, Telangana People’s Front member MV Reddy said on Thursday (September 24, 2026).

While education remains crucial for improving people’s quality of life, poor people continue to get crushed by exorbitant private school fees without good government schools, he said.

Mr. Reddy along with other team members were addressing a round-table in Vikarabad, organised as part of TPFs 12-day Vidya Bus Yatra, to highlight concerns over school education and for measures to strengthen public education and regulate the rising cost of private education.

Several school and junior college students participated and raised concerns over inadequate facilities. They said that a school with around 400 girls had only two toilets.

The TPF team conducted ‘Badi Nidra’ at the ZP High School for Girls in Dharur village. The members alleged that the school had several abandoned buildings, no secure gate or boundary wall, and poor sanitation. Pigs, stray dogs and monkeys were reportedly roaming on the campus.

TPF leaders said sustained public demand was necessary to push governments to address the needs of public education system.

Telangana has completed the first year of its State-wide digital mathematics and science programme for students in Grades 6-12, implemented by the Department of School Education in collaboration with Khan Academy.

Launched in June 2025, the programme has reached nearly 6,000 schools and trained close to 20,000 teachers. More than nine lakh students have accessed the programme, accounting for nearly 80% of its student base, an official release stated.

The initiative covers Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), Model Schools, Residential Educational Institutions Society schools, and government and local body schools.

As per the agreement guidelines, the programme included weekly online mathematics and science practice. It also followed a cascade training model. The State Council of Educational Research and Training, in partnership with Khan Academy India, trained 200 master trainers, who then trained mandal resource persons and mathematics and science teachers at the mandal level.

As per details, KGBVs recorded more than one lakh student registrations, representing nearly 84% of their student base, with science recording higher participation.

In the 2026-27 academic year, the department said the plan is to focus on regular student usage and engagement. District nodal officers will support implementation and conduct weekly monitoring across schools.

Telangana School Education Department has decided to fill a total of 202 vacancies in various teacher training institutions in the State, as a stop-gap arrangement by deputing in-service officials on foreign service terms and conditions.

This includes filling of 131 lecturer posts in District Institutes of Education and Training (DIET), 36 in College of Teacher Education (CTE), 17 in Institute of Advanced Studies in Education (IASE), and 18 in State Council of Educational Research & Training (SCERT).

Noting that the posts have remained vacant for a considerable time, affecting students in these institutions, the orders released on Sunday (June 28, 2026), said eligible gazetted headmasters and school assistants of government and local body management schools can apply.

The deputation will be assigned following a computer-based test, interview, and demonstration. The exercise is scheduled for completion by August 10, when the deputation orders will be issued. Interviews of the candidates will be done in respective districts through a district-level committee chaired by the District Collector, DEOs, and other subject experts. The State-level committee for SCERT will be chaired by Director, School Education. Application for the same are open online from July 4 to 14 on https://schooledu.telangana.gov.in/