Is policy paralysis hurting the Telangana Education sector? The answer seems to be yes. Officials in the state education departments have been changing since the formation of Telangana. This includes secretaries, commissioners, and directors at the state level, as well as Heads of Departments in various education sectors. There have also been changes in leadership positions at organizations like the State Board of Intermediate Education and Board of Secondary Education, Telangana State Council of Higher Education. Additionally, full-time and part-time vice-chancellors have been leading state universities for the past decade.
However, key policy decisions related to education have been delayed for years, according to a former State Higher Education Department official. For example, the appointment of a School Fee Regulation Committee to regulate school fees in private un-aided schools has not been implemented despite repeated assurances from the State government. The Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education has not made significant changes compared to other boards like CBSE and ICSE, which have aligned with the New Education Policy-2020.
There are concerns about the low number of students qualifying for Junior Research Fellowship-cum-National Eligibility Test (NET) in State universities. The University Grants Commission has introduced new eligibility norms that allow undergraduate students to pursue research across the country. However, there is a lack of focus on strengthening undergraduate courses and preparing students for national-level competitions.
The appointment of regular university faculty has been stalled for years, despite government orders and clearances being issued since 2016. This delay has frustrated members of the University Teachers JAC, who are calling for action on this important policy decision.
