Hyderabad: Education budget allocation demand intensified as the Telangana Save Education Committee (TSEC) urged the state government to raise spending to at least 15% of the total budget, calling the current 8.2% allocation inadequate.
The committee criticised the government for failing to meet both public expectations and its own manifesto promise. Leaders Prof. K. Chakradhar Rao, Prof. G. Haragopal and Prof. K. Lakshmi Narayana said student, teacher and lecturer unions had consistently demanded a minimum allocation of 20%.
They said the government’s allocation fell short of even the promised 15%, raising questions about its commitment to strengthening public education.
Education budget allocation demand flags gaps in school sector
The committee said the education budget allocation demand gained urgency due to gaps in school education. It pointed out that the government announced expansion of pre-primary education to 2,500 schools but did not allocate funds for the initiative.
Leaders highlighted several unresolved issues, including poor infrastructure in government schools, a severe shortage of teachers and the absence of teacher training programmes.
They said these gaps showed a lack of planning and execution in addressing core education needs.
Education budget allocation demand highlights university funding concerns
The education budget allocation demand also focused on higher education funding. The committee said allocations to universities remained insufficient and could affect their functioning.
It noted that Kakatiya University received Rs.40 crore, while Mahatma Gandhi University and Palamuru University received Rs.35 crore each. Telangana University was allocated Rs.125 crore.
The committee warned that such limited funding could threaten the survival of these institutions.
Education budget allocation demand questions fund utilisation
The committee said the education budget allocation demand also stemmed from poor utilisation of existing funds. It pointed out that the present Congress government had earlier criticised the TRS government on spending issues.
However, it said the current government utilised only Rs.46 crore out of Rs.617 crore allocated for higher education development in 2024–25. This accounted for less than 7% utilisation.
The committee said this raised serious concerns about financial management and implementation.
Education budget allocation demand seeks Assembly discussion
The committee called for urgent corrective steps and reiterated the education budget allocation in the Assembly. It urged the government to hold a detailed discussion on education priorities.
It also asked the government to increase allocation to at least 15% to revive and strengthen the public education system.
The committee said higher investment remained essential to address structural issues and improve overall education standards in the state.