School Education Saga – XVIII: School Funding Policy in Telangana: Welfare vs. Social Welfare

Hyderabad: Should state government funding policies be aimed at the welfare of all children who attend school? Or should welfare policies for some school children be aimed at the welfare of all?

This political perspective raises questions about the existence, functioning and purpose of the school education department, which is to provide education for all children. The pursuit of a trichotomous policy that differentiates children’s education increases the rationality of existing school education policies.

Firstly, the social education policy of the state government has started several residential community based schools. Rightly so, to give impetus to the educational development of children from underprivileged classes and communities in about 370 educational blocks (EEB) under centrally sponsored schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE), which are now merged into Samagra Siksha Abhiyan (SSA).

With the change in the definition of ‘school’, the current scheme treats pre-primary, primary, primary, secondary and higher secondary schools as one. In turn, these interventions helped in building additional classrooms, toilets and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), extending the educational benefits from pre-primary to class XII. Moreover, the state of Telangana has set up model schools and residential schools in the last ten years at an expense ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh per student per year.

The results and learning outcomes of the students show that it is a great success. It also attracted national and international attention, which led to a team from Harvard University coming to Telangana to take it up as a case study.

Secondly, there are around 26,000 Zilla Parishad (ZPS) and Mandal Praja Parishad (MPPS) schools. They have been catering to the much-needed educational needs of the United Andhra Pradesh for decades till date. However, due to neglect by successive governments and timid initiatives, these schools, which played an important role in the public education system, are now struggling to meet recurring expenses due to paucity of funds.

Funding for these schools is allocated based on different student groups.

A school with a student population of 1 to 20 is in the lowest bracket. Annually, such schools receive Rs 5,000 as maintenance grant, Rs 5,000 as school grant and Rs 5,000 more to meet other expenses. When the student population is between 20 and 40, the school receives a school grant of Rs 12,500 annually and a similar amount for the other two streams.

Speaking to The Hans India, N Ramakrishna (name changed) of MPSS School in Bhadrachalam Mandal said, “We have to bear the expenses of celebrating Independence Day, Republic Day, Telangana State Day, Children’s Day, Teachers’ Day and several other events. The annual grant of Rs 15,000 for three purposes is not enough to celebrate even two events,” he added. The principals or teachers will have to bear the expenses like chalk, dusters and several other items required for conducting classes on a daily basis.

The issue of third-rate students in the state has remained controversial for over a decade. It became even more bitter after the creation of Telangana, with parents accusing successive state governments of working hand in glove with private and corporate schools to cheat parents as they pleased in the name of school fee loot. Despite numerous complaints and legal battles, the school education department acted in connivance with the authorities by not taking action against the erring school.

High-fee corporate schools have mushroomed in Hyderabad and neighbouring districts, unlike in four other metropolitan cities in the country. The state government’s assurances of introducing a fee regulation act in private schools have remained unfulfilled, with private corporations raking in fees in successive academic years, says the Hyderabad School Parents Association (HSPA), which is fighting a legal battle with the state government over the implementation of the fee regulation act.