RS Praveen Kumar criticises government over education sector decline
HYDERABAD: BRS leader RS Praveen Kumar has voiced strong criticism against the Revanth Reddy-led government, alleging significant neglect in the education sector. Speaking at Telangana Bhavan on Friday, Kumar expressed deep concern over recent student fatalities, including incidents in Kulakacharla of Parigi constituency and the suicide of a student named Aradhya in Balanagar. He lamented that despite these tragedies, there appears to be a lack of responsiveness from government officials.
Kumar highlighted a decline in the standards of Gurukul schools, institutions previously known for their excellence. He noted that during KCR’s tenure, there was intense competition for admissions, with three candidates vying for each seat. In contrast, under the current administration, interest has waned to the point where, despite extending application deadlines three times, fewer than 80,000 applications were received for 40,000 available seats in the fifth-grade entrance examination.
Questioning Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s dual role as the Education Minister, Kumar asked whether Reddy assumed the position to dismantle the education system. He criticised the government’s decision to abolish entrance tests, suggesting it indicates a lack of understanding of educational needs. Kumar recalled that during KCR’s leadership, over 30 Pratibha schools were established, producing numerous doctors and engineers. He expressed concern over alleged plans to shut down these institutions.
Further, Kumar pointed out that during KCR’s administration, Gurukul staff received their salaries in the first week of every month, a practice that has reportedly ceased under the current government. He also raised concerns about a special school in Bhongir, initiated during KCR’s tenure to prepare students for military service, which he claims is now being undermined.
Highlighting the achievements of Gurukul alumni, Kumar mentioned that while many have become doctors, there have been recent reports of 57 medical students passing away, allegedly due to anaemia. He also brought attention to Nandini, a student from the Rajaka community who won a gold medal in badminton at the National Games, yet received no recognition or encouragement from the state government. Kumar questioned whether the government’s neglect was due to her being a Backward Class (BC) student and demanded an immediate reward of ₹10 million for her accomplishment.
Criticising the government’s selective recognition, Kumar asked if only athletes like Siraj and Zareen are acknowledged, while others are overlooked. He condemned the reported incident in Nagarkurnool district, where two Gurukul students suffered food poisoning, and instead of addressing the issue, cases were filed against those who raised concerns, including a news channel reporter. Kumar expressed outrage that the affected students were interrogated at a police station for two hours, questioning the treatment of students in such a manner.
In his concluding remarks, Kumar described Revanth Reddy’s governance as tyrannical and suggested that the sooner he is removed from office, the better it would be for the state’s education system.
