Latest news with #ZillaParishadHighSchool
India Today
16 hours ago
- General
- India Today
Empty classrooms: No new enrolment for third year in Telangana government school
Is a school really a school if there are no students and no classes? That is the story of a government school in Telangana's Khammam district, where a once-thriving Zilla Parishad High School hasn't seen a single student enrolment this academic school in question is located in Astnagurthy village (also known as Asnagurthi), in Wyra Mandal, about 38 km from Khammam district headquarters. The school, which is about 193 km east-southeast of the capital Hyderabad, is now facing an existential crisis — the disturbing trend of no new enrolment since the past three years having three teachers, including a headmistress posted at the school last year, not one student showed up. Teachers would attend school daily, only to return without conducting a single class. Eventually, they were deputed to other schools while continuing to draw their salaries under the Astnagurthy school's payroll. This year, the situation remains unchanged. Over the past week, the three posted teachers have been regularly attending the school and returning home each day, even though no students are on the rolls. Their salaries range from Rs 80,000 to over Rs 90,000 per month, costing the government nearly Rs 3 lakh per month — and over Rs 40 lakh annually — to run a school without students.A ONCE-CROWDED SCHOOL NOW DESERTEDThis institution, established in 1976, once served as an educational hub for 10–15 surrounding villages. During the 1990s, more than 1,000 students studied here. In fact, gaining admission used to require recommendations due to high over the years, numbers dwindled drastically. Parents began favoring private schools, and the government itself promoted residential educational institutions like Gurukuls. These factors led to a dramatic fall in despite being equipped to teach students from classes 6 to 10, and requiring at least 11 teachers for full-fledged operations, the school is being run with just three teachers — and not a single SUPPORT SCHOOL BUT IN VAINIronically, several former students of the school have gone on to become government employees and NRIs. A few of them, nostalgic about their school days, donated 20 computers, a TV, and furniture to support the school's revival. But their goodwill has yet to attract a single villagers, including Hari Koteshwer Rao, expressed frustration, stating that the lack of adequate teaching staff in recent years pushed parents to send their children elsewhere. Anwar, a Hindi teacher, and Chandrashekar, a science teacher, echoed similar pointed out that earlier, the school had enough teachers to run all classes smoothly. But successive staff transfers and lack of fresh appointments led to a trust deficit among parents. As a result, the school fell into decline.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Jagan played politics even with children's education: MLA Sunitha
Kurnool: Raptadu MLA Paritala Sunitha launched a scathing attack on former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing him of politicizing children's education. She referred to Jagan as a 'psycho' for allegedly using students for political publicity during his tenure. Speaking at the Vidya Mitra School Kit distribution programme held at the Zilla Parishad High School in Raptadu, Sunitha criticized the previous YSRCP government for printing the Jagan's photographs on school kits like bags and belts. In contrast, she praised the current TDP-led government for using the images of great visionaries such as Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on the kits, saying, 'This is about inspiration, not promotion.' On her arrival at the school, students and staff gave MLA Sunitha a warm welcome. She paid floral tributes to the statues of Saraswati Devi and Dr. Radhakrishnan, and participated in the celebrations following the disbursal of 15,000 under the 'Talli ki Vandhanam' scheme to eligible mothers of students. The event featured milk abhishekam (milk anointing) to portraits of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, and Education Minister Nara Lokesh in honor of their contributions to education. Sunitha personally handed over the Vidya Mitra Kits to students and inspected the school's infrastructure, interacting with both teachers and students about their needs. Highlighting the scale of the initiative, she stated that 3,000 students in Raptadu mandal alone were given Vidya Mitra kits. Across Andhra Pradesh, 36 lakh students are receiving these kits, with a budget allocation of 950 crore. She further noted that under the 'Talli ki Vandhanam' program, 6.5 crore was distributed to 5,000 mothers in Raptadu, while 8,800 crore has been sanctioned for 68 lakh beneficiaries statewide. In the first phase, 7,200 crore was already disbursed to 55 lakh beneficiaries. Slamming YSRCP leaders for 'politicizing even small incidents' post-defeat, she cited an example of how an incident involving the abuse of a girl was repeatedly politicized for mileage instead of offering solace.
Hans India
06-06-2025
- General
- Hans India
'Every School-Age Child Must Be in School' – Headmaster Timmareddy Leads Enrollment Drive in Medikonda
Gadwal: As part of the 'Badi Bata' (School Enrollment Drive) launched across Telangana today, Timmareddy, the Headmaster of the Zilla Parishad High School in Medikonda, emphasized that every school-age child must be in school and should not be forced into labor under any circumstances. In an active effort to bring children back to school, Headmaster Timmareddy, along with a team of school teachers, visited the homes of children who have not yet enrolled or returned to school. This door-to-door campaign is part of the government's larger mission to ensure 100% school enrollment and retention. Speaking on the occasion, Timmareddy announced that from this academic year onwards, all high school classes will be conducted in a newly constructed school building. He noted that the school had previously faced significant challenges due to the lack of classrooms, which affected the smooth conduct of academic sessions. However, with the new building now ready, the school is prepared to offer a better and more structured learning environment. In addition to academics, students will also receive training in technical education and sports, giving them holistic exposure and opportunities to excel in various fields. 'We aim to utilize all available resources to provide quality education and develop skills among students,' said the headmaster. He urged parents and guardians to take advantage of these improved facilities and ensure that every school-age child in the village returns to school and continues their education. Along with Headmaster Timmareddy, several teachers and community leaders participated in the program, including teachers Ramanaidu, Narsimhulu, Abel, Jagadeesh, Ruth, Anupama, and Model School Committee Chairperson Radhamma. Their collective participation reflects a strong community commitment to promoting education and preventing child labor in the region. This initiative is aligned with the Telangana government's broader goal to strengthen the public education system through infrastructure development, awareness programs, and community involvement.
Hans India
06-06-2025
- Hans India
On a mission to reform lives of prisoners
Rajamahendravaram: From tribal hamlets to high-security prison cells, the mission of Chilukuri Srinivasa Rao has remained the same-- to transform lives through the power of education. A recipient of the National Best Teacher Award, Srinivasa Rao, popularly known as 'Jail Master,' is currently on deputation at the Rajamahendravaram Central Prison, where he is bringing light into the lives of incarcerated individuals through literacy and moral instruction. Hailing from Kadiyam village in East Godavari district, Srinivasa Rao is not just a teacher, but a movement in himself. A Mathematics teacher by profession at Zilla Parishad High School in Pandalapaka, Bikkavolu mandal, he volunteered for deputation to teach inside the jail, a task many educators hesitate to undertake. Today, his influence has reached hundreds of inmates, changing their outlook and equipping them with education, confidence, and a sense of purpose. Within the prison walls that house around 1,400 inmates, Srinivasa Rao conducts a range of classes from basic literacy and signature training to coaching for Open Tenth, Open Intermediate, and even Degree courses under Dr BR Ambedkar Open University. Many of his students are now certified graduates, thanks to his mentoring. His efforts bore remarkable results -last year, 81% of inmates passed the Open 10th exams, and 92% cleared the Intermediate level. This year, those numbers rose to 100% and 96% respectively. Notably, one inmate, Govindu, achieved distinction in the degree exams and even won a gold medal across the two Telugu states-a testimony to Srinivasa Rao's impactful teaching. Srinivasa Rao's mission goes beyond academics. Recognising the emotional and psychological burdens inmates carry, he focuses on moral values, ethical living, and mental well-being. His teaching methods are compassionate yet disciplined, treating prisoners like school children, guiding them patiently, and instilling self-worth in them. 'Inmates are different from normal students. Some are driven by remorse, some by anger, and others by an inferiority complex or hopelessness. To sit with them, earn their trust, and teach them values takes patience and dedication,' he says. His commitment and humane approach have earned him admiration not only from inmates but also from jail officials and state authorities. The Superintendent of the Central Jail S Rahul recently felicitated him for his contributions. During a recent visit, DGP of Prisons Anjani Kumar, Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh, and district collector K Prasanthi personally appreciated his selfless service. Srinivasa Rao's dedication to public service predates his prison work. He once served in a remote settlement of the Yanadi tribal community, where he educated not just school children but also illiterate adults in the colony. His efforts changed the entire landscape of the area socially and educationally. An environmentalist as well, he has planted over one lakh trees across the East Godavari district over the past three decades. His green initiative earned him the prestigious 'Environment Friend Award' from former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. He is also a textbook author, a cultural ambassador, and a committed advocate for language preservation and social reform. His extraordinary achievements have earned accolades from leaders like Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, former Chief Ministers K Rosaiah, and N Kiran Kumar Reddy. When the education department called for volunteers to teach in prisons, few stepped forward. But Srinivasa Rao not only accepted the challenge, he excelled in it. 'He is not just a teacher. He is striving for a reform,' says District Educational Officer K Vasudeva Rao. Whether it's sowing seeds of literacy in hardened hearts or nurturing the spirit of humanity in isolated souls, Chilukuri Srinivasa Rao is proving that true education can transform even the darkest corners of society. And in doing so, he is rewriting the very narrative of correctional reform in Andhra Pradesh, one inmate at a time.
New Indian Express
01-06-2025
- New Indian Express
This government school in Telangana is using AI to catch ‘em all
KARIMNAGAR: Deploying AI as their newest recruiter, Zilla Parishad High School in Mallapur, Thimmapur mandal, is revolutionising enrollment. In a creative, tech-savvy leap, Hindi teacher Md Shareef Ahmed has engineered captivating promotional videos using artificial intelligence (AI) to boost admissions for the 2025-26 academic year. The videos, crafted to support the Badi Bata programme (school enrollment drive) from June 6 to 19, highlight the many benefits of government education — free textbooks, notebooks, digital classrooms, midday meals, sports kits and a fee-free, stress-free learning environment. Visually appealing and informative, the videos include footage of the school's classrooms, infrastructure and snapshots of teaching methods. To further bolster the school's image, the content showcases last year's achievements, notably, the participation of 10 students in national-level adventure camps and educational tours to Delhi and Agra. These AI-powered videos are being circulated widely on social media platforms. 'We are working to build trust and awareness about the opportunities available in government schools,' says headmaster Puram Uma Rani. The school has set a target of 100 new admissions and is also conducting a door-to-door campaign to reach parents.
