Telangana to Double Education Budget to 15%; CM Revanth Reddy Launches Nursery-to-XII Model

Budgetary Priority for Education

• The Chief Minister stated that education spending is an investment in future generations.
• Telangana plans to gradually increase education allocation to 15% of the annual Budget.
• The Telangana Education Commission had recommended 17%, but the government said it cannot be raised suddenly from around 7.6%–8%.
• The Chief Minister said the education Budget will increase every year.
• He also stated that he kept the Education portfolio with himself because he considers education central to Telangana’s transformation.

Nursery-to-XII Government School Model

• From the 2026–27 academic year, admissions in government schools will begin from pre-primary sections.
• Telangana plans to introduce education from nursery to Class XII in government institutions.
• The idea is linked to reducing dropouts after Class X.
• The Chief Minister noted that children who join private schools at nursery, LKG and UKG levels often do not return to government schools later.
• This model aims to retain students in the public education system from the foundational stage.

School Infrastructure Push

• The government launched works worth ₹1,700 crore.
• These works include:
  • 11 integrated school complexes
  • Upgradation of existing schools
  • Additional classrooms
  • Pre-primary sections in government schools
• These works will be taken up in:
  • Medchal-Malkajgiri
  • Sangareddy
  • Rangareddy

Teacher Recruitment and Capacity Building

• Since December 2023, the government has highlighted several teacher-related measures.
• Key measures include:
  • Recruitment of over 11,000 teachers
  • Issue of DSC notifications
  • Promotions to around 22,000 teachers
  • Transfers of around 36,000 teachers without controversy
• The State sent 25 government teachers to Finland to study school systems.
• The Chief Minister suggested that, if necessary, 500 best-performing teachers may be sent abroad every year to study global education practices.
• The government also referred to NITI Aayog recommendations while discussing education reforms.

Nutrition and Student Support

• Students will receive:
  • Protein-rich breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Milk
  • Ragi java
• A breakfast pilot project in Kodangal is planned to be expanded from the coming academic year.
• The government is spending around ₹1,000 crore on:
  • Uniforms
  • Shoes
  • Bags
  • Notebooks
  • Other education kits
• The Chief Minister warned suppliers against providing poor-quality education kits.
• Diet and cosmetic charges for hostel students have also been revised.

Government School Status in Telangana

• Telangana has around 27,000 government schools.
• These schools have about 19 lakh students.
• The State has around 1.05 lakh teachers.
• Around 38 lakh students’ study in nearly 12,000 private schools.
• Telangana has a teacher-student ratio of 1:17.
• The Chief Minister compared this with the NEP norm of 1:30.
• He said government schools must compete directly with private institutions.

Broader Reform Vision

• Telangana aims to become the number one State in public education.
• The Chief Minister said government school students should secure top results, instead of only students from corporate colleges.
• He called for a new Telangana education policy that other States can follow.
• Young India Residential Schools were mentioned as part of efforts to reduce caste-based segregation.
• IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu linked education reform with Telangana’s goal of becoming a three-trillion-dollar economy by 2047.

Significance

• Strengthens public education and reduces dependence on private schools.
• Supports education equity for poor and vulnerable students.
• Nursery-to-XII model can reduce dropouts and improve continuity in schooling.
• Pre-primary sections can improve early childhood learning.
• Better nutrition can improve attendance, health and learning outcomes.
• Teacher recruitment, promotions and training can improve classroom quality.
• Higher education spending can support long-term human capital formation.
• Strong public education can support Telangana’s future economic growth.

Way Forward

• Increase education spending in a phased and transparent manner.
• Focus on foundational literacy and numeracy from pre-primary level.
• Strengthen existing government schools along with new integrated complexes.
• Link teacher training with classroom performance.
• Expand nutrition support across all government schools.
• Ensure quality checks for education kits and supplies.
• Involve parents, teachers and local communities in school monitoring.
• Prepare Telangana’s new education policy as a practical public school reform model.

Conclusion

Telangana’s education reform push aims to strengthen government schools through higher budget allocation, nursery-to-Class XII schooling, infrastructure development, teacher reforms and nutrition support. If implemented effectively, it can improve learning outcomes, reduce education inequality and build strong human capital for Telangana’s long-term development.