`Long-term investment’: Telangana rolls out facial recognition system across schools colleges

Hyderabad: From introducing facial recognition to monitoring attendance and streamlining infrastructure development under a single authority, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has embarked on a new mission to reform Telangana’s education sector.

Chairing a high-level review meeting with Education Department officials at the Integrated Command and Control Centre on Friday, the chief minister said the government views spending on education as a long-term investment.

Facial recognition to track attendance

Revanth Reddy directed officials to roll out facial recognition technology across all schools and colleges for students, teachers, and staff. This, he said, would improve attendance, remove loopholes, and ensure accountability in educational institutions.

Infrastructure to be streamlined

The chief minister also insisted that additional classrooms, kitchens, toilets, and compound walls should not be constructed by different agencies, warning that the current practice hampers quality control.

Instead, all education-related works will now be executed exclusively by the Education and Welfare Infrastructure Development Corporation (EWIDC), which is already overseeing the Young India Integrated Residential Schools project.

Engineers and staff from other departments will be deputed to strengthen the corporation.

Welfare and Pending Bills

He directed officials to clear all pending mid-day meal bills through the green channel and warned against delays. He also instructed immediate payment of dues related to sanitation works in Amma Adarsha Schools.

Focus on Girls’ Education and Facilities

Special emphasis was placed on women’s colleges and girls’ schools. He ordered the expedited construction of toilets and urinals, as well as the establishment of container kitchens equipped with solar cooking facilities, to improve hygiene and convenience.

Sports and Counselling

Highlighting the government’s priority for sports, Revanth Reddy directed the recruitment of Physical Education Teachers (PETs) on a contract basis if necessary. He also suggested appointing female counsellors in welfare Gurukul schools to guide girl students on various personal and academic issues.

Education as Investment, Not Expenditure

Reiterating that education should be treated as an investment, the chief minister said Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has already appealed to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to exclude loans taken for education infrastructure projects from the FRBM limits.

Report on Marginalized Communities

Since more than 90 per cent of students in government institutions belong to BC, SC, ST, and minority communities, Revanth Reddy asked officials to prepare a 10-year report on students who have studied in government-run schools, colleges, and universities.

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister’s Advisor Vem Narender Reddy, Special Secretary B. Ajith Reddy, OSD Vemulu Srinivasulu, Principal Secretary (Education) Yogita Rana, Higher Education Board Chairman Prof. Balakishta Reddy, Technical Education Commissioner Sridevasena, and School Education Director Naveen Nicholas, among others.