Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has instructed IAS and IPS officers to prioritize government schools by visiting them twice a week in their respective districts and interacting with students while solving their problems head-on.

Addressing students during Children’s Day celebrations at the LB Stadium here on Thursday, the Chief Minister warned that officers who neglect their duty to support government schools will face problems in future promotions and career opportunities. transfer as the government will not consider such officials as a priority. posts.

Highlighting the recent efforts of the Congress government, Reddy explained the many steps taken by them to uplift government schools in the state. These include upgrading infrastructure, recruiting new teachers and distributing free textbooks and uniforms on the first day of the academic year.

He criticized the BRS regime and accused it of closing more than 5,000 government schools and depriving disadvantaged communities in remote areas of access to education.

The Chief Minister expressed his delight by celebrating the completion of one year in office on Children’s Day and cited former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s legacy of making education accessible to all. He pointed out that the state government has allocated over seven percent of the state budget for education, promoted 20,000 teachers and managed the transfer process for another 35,000 educators.

Demonstrating its commitment to education, the government also conducted DSC exams and recruited more than 11,000 teachers for vacant posts across the state within 65 days.

In an initiative to support school facilities, the state government announced the provision of free power to government schools and hired 150 million annually for maintenance staff, including visitors, sweepers and sanitation workers. He further stressed the speedy appointment of university vice-chancellors, a role left unfilled by the BRS administration, and promised to fill both teaching and non-teaching posts soon.

Reddy announced the formation of a State Education Commission to address the problems of students, marking a first in India. While 26 lakh students study in 26,854 government schools, a significant number of 36 lakh are currently enrolled in 11,000 private schools, a trend he promised to reverse by saving the reputation of government schools.

He urged government officials, elected representatives and teachers to reflect on the factors contributing to the decline of public schools despite having highly qualified educators. He instructed the district collectors to closely monitor the functioning of the schools twice a week.

Revanth Reddy warned that officials found that providing improper food or essentials in school hostels would face strict legal action. He highlighted the government’s recent increases in mess and cosmetic charges for hostels, promising a 40% increase to improve the quality of meals and personal care for students. This follows a decade of stagnant rates, he said.

Reddy took on his predecessor K. Chandrasekhar Rao for total lack of engagement with students during his tenure. He recalled the tragic incidents under the KCR regime such as the Masaipet train accident in which 30 students were killed and how Rao failed to take steps to address the tragedy affecting schoolchildren.

Instead, Reddy promised to be accessible to students and proactive in addressing their concerns.

He expressed deep concern over the rising cases of drug abuse in Telangana, especially among the youth. He urged the students to take a stand against drug use, stressing the importance of staying focused on education and self-improvement. To promote a culture of athletic performance, the government has announced plans for a Young India Sports University, aimed at nurturing future Olympians and identifying talented young athletes.

The government also introduced the Young India Integrated Residential Schools designed to provide international standard education to students from BC, SC, ST and minority communities.

Revanth Reddy affirmed the government’s commitment to the progress of these students and said that Telangana is on the “golden path” to development, overcoming barriers to ensure that every child has access to quality education and growth opportunities.