Schools in parts of Telangana are likely to face disruption today after the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) called for a statewide school bandh, raising concerns over private school facilities, government school infrastructure and staff shortages. The student body announced the shutdown as part of a protest seeking reforms in private and government school education.The bandh call led many private and corporate schools, especially in Hyderabad, to declare holidays in anticipation of protests. ABVP appealed to the students, parents and school management to support the action, stating that the long pending issues affecting school education need immediate attention from the state government.The regulation of the rate in the center of the protestA key demand raised by ABVP is the introduction of a strict law to regulate fees paid by private and corporate schools. The organization asserted that many institutions increase fees without adequate supervision, placing a financial burden on parents.ABVP also opposed practices such as compulsory purchase related to school uniforms and other school requirements. The organization said that greater transparency is needed in admissions, academics and fee structures, and called for measures to prevent arbitrary fee increases.The student body has been seeking comprehensive reforms covering nearly 23,000 private schools in Telangana. He called for the creation of a dedicated authority to monitor tariff practices, inspect institutions and oversee annual tariff revisions.Questions related to government schoolsApart from fee regulation, ABVP has raised concerns regarding government schools. The organization opposed the school rationalization policy proposed by the state, claiming that it could affect thousands of government schools.The student body also highlighted the delays in the distribution of school uniforms issued by the government, noting that many students have not received them despite the start of the academic year.ABVP also demanded immediate recruitment to fill teaching and non-teaching vacancies in government schools. He also sought appointments to key administrative posts, including Mandal Education Officer and District Education Officer.Infrastructure and policy issues highlightedThe organization urged the government to improve infrastructure in educational institutions, including construction of permanent buildings for Gurukul residential schools. He also sought closer monitoring of the midday meal program to improve food quality and prevent food poisoning incidents.Among their demands are the implementation of fee regulation measures, the application of 25 percent reservation for students from the economically weaker section in private schools, and the implementation of NEP-2020 provisions related to school education.Responses to the bandh announcement on social media reflected concerns from some parents, who questioned whether the shutdown would benefit students as they disrupt classes at the start of the academic year.
