KCR asks colleges to hold exams for final-year students, promote others

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, on 16 July, directed officials to conduct the final-semester exams for undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) students of all universities in the state as per the directions of the University Grants Commission and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). He has also declared that all UG and PG students of other semesters will be promoted to the next semester based on their performance in previous semesters and internal assessments.

KCR held a review meeting here on Thursday at Pragati Bhavan to discuss issues related to the education sector in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. "To uphold the academic sanctity, it was decided to follow the UGC and AICTE guidelines and conduct examinations for final-year students. Other students will be promoted to the next semester without any examination," the Chief Minister said.

He also announced that the academic year for engineering colleges will start from 17 August, as directed by the AICTE. It was also decided to prepare a schedule for the common entrance tests (CETs) soon so that students do not lose an academic year. The CETs were scheduled to be held in July but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government will soon take a final decision on the reopening of schools in the state, teaching options, and other related issues after examining the Central guidelines and methods adopted by other states.

Meanwhile, KCR said the state will prepare and implement a long-term strategy to strengthen government educational institutions in the state and clean up the education system. For this, the Chief Minister has instructed officials concerned to convene a meeting with educationists and experts and enlist their opinions.

The CM was of the opinion that by improving government educational institutions and providing quality education to students, the state can control the exploitation that is being done in the name of education. “After the formation of the state, we focused on various sectors and solved long-pending issues and problems. Power and drinking water problem have been solved. We are finding solutions for irrigation water. The agriculture sector is settling down and there have been no land-grabbing incidents. Playing cards clubs have been closed down and the sale and production of illicit liquor have stopped.," KCR said, adding the state will now focus on revamping the revenue department and strengthening the education sector.

He has instructed officials to conduct a workshop on the present condition of government schools, intermediate and degree colleges, and other government institutions and discuss measures to be taken up to transform them into great institutions and upgrade the standard of education. The CM has asked officials to consult academicians and experts for the same.

KCR also said that people now have developed faith and confidence in government hospitals through the state's various efforts. “By improving facilities and through the implementation of the KCR Kits programme, poor people have benefitted from government hospitals. The number of out-patients has increased. Exploitation in the medical and health sector has reduced. Similarly, if the government educational institutions are strengthened, people will benefit," he said.

The Chief Minister said the state will help orphan girls who are studying in Kasturba schools get higher education. A policy decision in this regard will be announced shortly, he added.

Education minister Sabita Indrareddy, chief secretary Somesh Kumar, special chief secretary (education) Chitra Ramachandran, state higher education council chairman Prof. Papireddy, and several senior officials attended the meeting.