Hyderabad: In Telangana, students admitted under the Best Available Scheme (BAS) are facing a halt in their education. Starting Saturday, Best Available School Managements (BASM) have stopped these students from attending classes. The reason is the State government’s failure to provide scholarship funds for three years in a row. This scheme is meant to help SC and ST students attend private schools with full scholarships. However, schools claim no funds have come through since 2022, despite multiple promises.
“We admit SC and ST students every year through this scheme,” a BASM spokesperson said. “For the last three years, we’ve had to take loans to support these students.”
This year, schools admitted students based on verbal promises from officials that funds would arrive within a month. Yet, by October, no money has been received.
In September, BASM sent formal warnings to the SC and ST department secretaries. They stated that if funds weren’t released by September 20, they would stop services after the Dussehra holidays. With no official response, schools have now acted. “Despite our efforts statewide, officials and politicians have not responded,” the statement said. “We have no choice but to stop BAS students from attending classes from October 4.”
This decision impacts thousands of SC/ST students in Telangana, leaving them without education mid-year. BASM urges parents to join them in demanding the government release the overdue funds.
Education activists and student groups have criticized the delay, calling it a breach of students’ right to education. “This is a systemic failure hurting marginalized communities,” said an activist. “The government must take immediate action.”
