Education in Bangaru Telangana

Education is a fundamental right, which leads to achieving the goal of “Education for All”. Over the years, efforts have been made at the state and national level to achieve this goal. As per Article 45 of the Constitution of India, Universalisation of Elementary Education is a Directive Principle of State Policy that underlines the need to provide free and compulsory education for all children up to the age of 14 years. As per Article, 21A and 93rd Constitutional Amendments 2009, Education has become a fundamental right. This article spells out the responsibility of the state for providing free and compulsory education to all children from the age of 6 to 14 years. This article has stated the constitutional position of right to education in our country.

Literacy Rate –Definition In earlier census up to 1981, it was customary to work out the literacy rate taking into account the total population. Since literacy rate is more meaningful if the sub population in the age of 0-6 is excluded from the total population, it was decided in 1991 to calculate literacy rate for the population seven years and above. The same concept has been retained in all Censuses since 1991.

Literacy Rate in Telangana Vs All-India

As per 2011 census, Telangana State has a Literacy rate of 66.54, as against All India literacy rate of 74.2 percent. In India, Kerala has a highest literacy rate of 94 percent, Bihar with a lowest literacy rate of 61.8 percent.

For Human Development, it is important to see the differences in Urban-Rural literacy gaps as well as Male-Female literacy gaps.
Urban-Rural Gap: Rural Telangana literacy rate was 57.3 percent and urban literacy rate was 81.1 percent of literacy rate. The gap in the literacy rate between urban–rural is 23.84 percent in Telangana, as shown in fig.1, whereas at All India level Urban-Rural literacy gap is 16.3 percent.

Male-Female literacy Gap: Male literacy rate in the state was 75.04 and female literacy rate was 57.99 .Male- Female literacy gap was 17.05 percent which was higher than the all India Male -Female literacy gap of 16.68 percent.

Caste and Literacy : Literacy rates were lower among SC and ST communities as compared to other communities. While overall literacy rate was 66.5 percent, corresponding rates among SC and ST communities were 58.9 percent and 49.5 percent respectively in the year 2011.

SCHOOL EDUCATION

To make effective and meaningful implementation of the fundamental right to education, elementary education was brought under “Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan” (SSA) to universalize elementary education. Similarly, secondary education has been brought under the flagship “Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyaan” Programme (RMSA). These two schemes aim to strengthen school education in terms of access, enrolment, retention and quality.

The Government is committed to achieving total enrolment by 2017 and for this several schemes have been initiated for bringing about both quantitative and qualitative improvement.

Universal Access in School Education

The following norms in establishing schooling facilities have been laid down to achieve universal access to school education.

• Primary level schools should be within 1 km walkable distance of all habitations.
• Elementary level schools should be within 3 km walkable distance of all habitations.

• Secondary level schools should be within a radius of 5kms of all habitations

On these parameters, Telangana state has achieved 99% access at an elementary level and 91.5% at a secondary level. Primary schools and Secondary schools have started in areas which were not served earlier.

During 2015-16, there were 40821 schools in the state of which 21948 were exclusively Primary Schools, 7188 exclusively Upper Primary schools, 155 schools having Primary with upper primary, secondary and higher secondary, 197 schools with Upper Primary Secondary/ Higher Secondary classes, 4810 schools were run with Primary with Upper Primary and secondary classes and 6523 schools having Upper Primary and Secondary classes. Details about Management wise schools in 2015-16 are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Management-wise Schools 2015-16

MANAGEMENT	I_V	I_VII/VIII	I_XII	VI_XII	I_X	VI_X	Total Schools
	Classes	Classes	Classes	Classes	Classes	Classes
Central Govt.	3	3	13	11	11	6	47
State Govt.	2672	175	114	184	295	905	4345
Mandal /Zilla/Parishad	16950	3154	1	0	26	4087	24218
Pvt.Aided	321	128	0	0	44	249	742
Pvt. Unaided	1569	3528	0	0	4407	1265	10769
Others	433	200	27	2	27	11	700
Total	21948	7188	155	197	4810	6523	40821

Source: U-DISE data 2015-16

Enrolment

Steps are being taken up for ensuring 100% access to education. Strengthening existing schools, opening new primary schools, establishment of alternative schools and another type of educational facilities in smaller and unserved habitations are few of the strategies implemented for universalization of elementary education.

Enrolment in all types of schools in the state during 2015-16 was 61.92 Lakh out of which 14.67 Lakh in I –V classes; 9.63 Lakh in I_VII_VIII classes, 1.12 Lakh in I-XII classes and 0.89 Lakh in VI-XII classes, 20.62 lakh in I-X classes, 14.98 lakh in VI-X classes. Details of the enrollment Management-wise is shown in table.2

Table -2 Management-Wise Enrolment in 2015-16

MANAGEMENT	I_V	I_VII_VIII	I_XII	VI_XII	I_X	VI_X	Total Enrolment
	Classes	Classes	Classes	Classes	Classes	Classes
Central Govt.	478	662	12866	4491	9878	1228	29603
State Govt.	158766	23506	67232	84234	98362	220563	652663
Mandal /Zilla/Parishad	902921	313140	121	0	5925	921565	2143672
Pvt.Aided	53403	16413	0	0	16000	57770	143586
Pvt. Unaided	312220	577038	31441	922	1924444	294681	3140746
Others	39748	32076	0	0	7515	2262	81601
Total	1467536	962835	111660	89647	2062124	1498069	6191871

Source: U-DISE data 2015-16

Teachers

The teacher is the vital human resource in school education system. The teacher acts as a facilitator for learning of pupils. A teacher is instrumental in developing knowledge, skills, attitudes and values among children at all stages of education. It is essential to maintain an optimum teacher-pupil ratio to achieve the goal of universal enrolment, retention and improve the education of children.

Keeping this in view, sustained efforts are being made by the government to recruit teachers in all types of schools to maintain a reasonable teacher-pupil ratio. Rationalization of teachers, deployment of teachers, and a creation of new posts and massive recruitment of teachers helped in overcoming imbalances in demand and supply of teachers. During 2015-16, there are 2,22,611 teachers in position in all types of schools in the state.

During 2015-16, there are 58252 teachers in primary schools, 44123 in primary with upper primary schools(I-VII/VIII), 2545 in primary with Upper Primary, Secondary & Higher secondary schools(I-XII) and 3183 in Upper Primary with Secondary & Higher secondary schools(VI-XII) 50149 in Primary with Upper Primary & Secondary schools(I-X) and 64359 in Upper Primary with Secondary (VI-X) Details of Teachers in schools are shown in Table 3

Table-3. Management-Wise Teachers , 2015-16

MANAGEMENT	I_V	I_VII_VIII	I_XII	VI_XII	I_X	VI_X	Total Teachers
	Classes	Classes	Classes	Classes	Classes	Classes
Central Govt.	10	4	320	195	342	141	1012
State Govt.	5813	694	1303	2967	2472	7386	20635
Mandal /Zilla/Parishad	39067	15952	3	0	177	44412	99611
Pvt.Aided	1100	553	0	0	309	1538	3500
Pvt. Unaided	10961	25960	919	21	46643	10791	95295
Others	1301	960	0	0	206	91	2558
Total	58252	44123	2545	3183	50149	64359	222611

Source: U-DISE data 2015-16

Intermediate Education

The Board of Intermediate Education (BIE) promotes the vision of world-class education in Telangana State through quality leadership, support, and services. It aims at continuous improvement of education in the State.

The BIE regulates and supervises the system of Intermediate education. It executes and governs various activities that include devising of courses of study, prescribing syllabus, conducting examinations, granting affiliations to colleges and, providing direction, support and leadership for all educational institutions under its jurisdiction. There are about 2991 Junior Colleges functioning in Telangana State. The category wise split up is shown below in table 4.

Table 4: Profile of Intermediate Colleges in State during 2015-16

SL NO	CATEGORY OF THE COLLEGE	NUMBER OF COLLEGES
1	Government Junior Colleges	398
2	Exclusively Government Vocational Junior Colleges	4
3	Private Aided Junior Colleges	43
4	Private and other Junior Colleges	2546
GRAND TOTAL:		2991

New Initiatives were taken during 2015-16

Free Education to all the students studying in GJCs: State government has taken a decision to provide FREE EDUCATION to all the students studying in 2 years Intermediate Courses in Government Junior Colleges as a part of its commitment to provide free education from KG to PG. As a result of the decision of the Government to provide free education the admissions in 1st year Intermediate courses in Government Junior colleges in the State has increased considerably from 68,573 for the year 2014-15 to 81,422 for this academic year 2015-16.

The total admissions in 2 years of Intermediate Courses in Government Junior Colleges are 1,50,390 during the year 2015-16 as compared to 1,35,235 of students during the year of 2014-15.

Supply of Free Textbooks to all the students studying in GJCs

The government has taken a decision to supply free textbooks to the students studying in GJCs from the Academic year 2015-16.
Capacity Building Activities

Tele-Lessons (Mana TV) / “e” Class Room (For Students)

Through Mana TV, live Tele-lessons on important subjects were transmitted for the benefit of students inGovernment Junior Colleges in the state. The introduction of the Audio Visual instruction has improved the results in IPE. Electronic classrooms were established in Government Junior Colleges. There are 260 Government Junior College’s in Telangana Region in the State with the latest technology. The content C.D.’s are provided by Board of Intermediate Education

Short Term Vocational Courses (For Students)

There are 24 short term Vocational Courses. The State Institute of Vocational Education wing in the Commissioner of Intermediate Education is authorized to conduct examinations and issue certificates. Nearly 1560 students are admitted in these courses for 3 Modules for the year 2014-15.The State Institute of Vocational Education is conducting 3 months, and 1-year duration certificate courses for the benefit of dropouts and others, like SSC failed / pass, Inter failed/passed throughout the state. It is aimed at improving the employable skills and employment i.e., both wage and self-employment.

Prof. Jayashankar Institute of Telangana Intermediate Staff Training Academy (JITISTA) (For Faculty)

The Commissionerate of Intermediate Education has renamed the Training Academy as the Prof. Jayashankar Institute of Telangana Intermediate Staff Training Academy after bifurcation of the State. It has conducted 67 training programmes covering 2430 employees of various categories of intermediate education during the year 2014-15. During 2015-16, Institute has conducted training programs for 691 JLS in JITISTA, O/o CIE, Hyderabad. 4701 Junior Lecturers are still to be given training. Training to all the JL of GJCS, Aided & contract faculty have been given at the District level.

Progress in Infrastructure Development

RIDF-XVIII is taken up for the construction of New buildings to 18 Government Junior College by the Government. All works have been completed.

NABARD RIDF–XIX is taken up for the strengthening of 53 Government Junior Colleges in State (Rural areas), Out of which 41 works have been completed and remaining works are under progress.

NABARD RIDF-XX is taken up for the construction of New buildings to 26 Government Junior Colleges, vide G.O.Ms.No. 6, Dated: 09.02.2015 with an estimated cost of Rs.58.50 Crores and additional classrooms to 69 GJC, compound walls to 19 GJC, Toilet blocks & RO plants to 177 GJC with an estimated cost of Rs.8225Cr. Vide G.O.Ms.No.11 Higher Education (IE), dated 08.04.2015, these works are under progress. Out of which 130 toilet blocks 159 RO plants are completed.

NABARD RIDF-XXI : it is taken up for the construction of 08 New Government Junior College Buildings and additional classrooms to 30 GJCs under RIDF-XXI.

Remote Interior Area Development (RIAD) :-

Progress on Attached Hostels to GJCs : 12 attached hostel buildings to the Government Junior Colleges in remote and interior areas in Khammam, Adilabad, Mahabubnagar & Warangal Districts are constructed.

Progress on Additional Class Rooms out of 22 Government Junior Colleges’ in remote and interior areas sanctioned for construction of additional classrooms, 11 works have been completed and remaining are in progress.

Up gradation of Laboratories: Government has decided to improve the facilities in Laboratories in Govt.Jr.Colleges and to conduct practical examinations. Accordingly, Laboratory Equipment is upgraded. Funds towards the purchase of lab equipment have been released to improve the infrastructural facilities in Government Junior Colleges.

G.Rajendera Kumar