Bring education to centre of political discourse

Hyderabad: Addressing wide-ranging issues in school education, former IAS officer and Telangana People Front member M Champalal stated on Sunday that educational problems have persisted for decades regardless of which political party holds power.

Speaking at a round-table conference at Sundarayya Bhavan in Adilabad, Champalal stressed the necessity of going beyond routine strategies to drive meaningful change.

The conference was conducted as part of the TPF 12-day Education Bus Yatra, following a previous session in Nizamabad. Champalal highlighted three core concerns: collapsing school infrastructure, soaring private school fees, and low state investment in public education, urging that education be brought to the centre of political discourse.

Former IAS officer Akunuri Murali criticized governments for successfully delivering bus services, rations, and electricity to remote regions while failing to establish effective school networks, attributing this to deliberate neglect of a sector vital for developing an enlightened citizenry.

As part of the yatra, the TPF team conducted Badi Nidra, an overnight stay at a government school in Malkapur tribal village in Gudihatnoor mandal on September 19, to draw attention to deteriorating school facilities. DBF leader P Shankar questioned why the Chief Minister advises Adivasis to seek education without ensuring good schools in tribal habitations.

TPF core committee member Rubina Mazher urged citizens to demand fully equipped schools as a constitutional right rather than settling for basic amenities. The event brought together local educationists, intellectuals, teachers, and activists. TPF core committee member Nikhil Vijaya Krishna introduced the Telangana Public School concept, while Dr Jagadeeswar outlined TPF objectives. Presided over by local activist Mohd Wahid, the conference saw participation from TPF core committee member Prof Padmaja Shaw and other prominent leaders.

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