Hyderabad: Government Junior Colleges admissions in Telangana recorded a sharp increase for the 2026–27 academic year, with Class XI enrolment crossing 85,000 students for the first time.
The Telangana Board of Intermediate Education (TGBIE) said Government Junior Colleges admitted 85,453 students to Intermediate First Year. The figure stood at nearly 75,000 during the previous academic year, marking an increase of about 14 per cent.
Officials said total enrolment in Government Junior Colleges reached 1,64,730 students across Class XI and Class XII. TGBIE Secretary Abhilasha Abhinav said the increase reflected growing confidence among students and parents in the State’s public intermediate education system.
She said the Telangana government had strengthened Government Junior Colleges through academic reforms, improved infrastructure, digital learning, student welfare measures and industry partnerships.
Government Junior Colleges admissions rise with industry support
Abhilasha Abhinav said collaborations with IBM and Hetero Pharmaceuticals had expanded opportunities for students. According to her, the partnerships offered skill development, internships, apprenticeships and employment support.
She said these initiatives had helped Government Junior Colleges become institutions of excellence. Therefore, more students were choosing public colleges for intermediate education. The Directorate of Intermediate Education also organised a State-level orientation programme on August 3 at the TGBIE Command Control Room in Hyderabad.
District Intermediate Education Officers and Government Junior College principals attended the programme. The sessions focused on Samagra Shiksha implementation, infrastructure development, financial management and student welfare.
Officials also reviewed Composite School Grants, computer room facilities, library grants, Eco Clubs under Mission LiFE and support for Children with Special Needs. In addition, experts conducted training on the SNA-SPARSH portal to strengthen financial management and improve fund utilisation.
The programme also included awareness sessions on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. The sessions covered workplace safety, institutional responsibilities and gender sensitivity.
Government Junior Colleges admissions supported by reforms
The department said partnerships with IBM provided students with digital skills, industry certifications and training in emerging technologies. Through an agreement with Hetero Pharmaceuticals, students pursuing life sciences and vocational education received internships, laboratory exposure and campus recruitment opportunities.
According to officials, Hetero committed employment opportunities for more than 300 Intermediate-qualified youth. Collectively, industry partnerships facilitated more than 2,000 placements and apprenticeships for Government Junior College students.
The department also aligned the first-year Intermediate curriculum with NCERT standards. It introduced updated concepts and removed outdated content. Students now access digital learning resources through QR-code-enabled textbooks. They can use smartphones to view video lectures, animations and additional study material.
Officials also organised leadership programmes for principals and lecturers. The training focused on institutional management, financial planning and student-centred teaching methods.
Infrastructure investment strengthens Government Junior Colleges
The State government expanded infrastructure through Samagra Shiksha and TGBIE funding. Officials sanctioned ₹1.90 crore for modern toilets in 40 Government Junior Colleges. They also allocated ₹1.04 crore for sports infrastructure across 416 colleges.
The government released ₹10.45 lakh for Eco Clubs in 418 colleges under Mission LiFE. Furthermore, it invested more than ₹20 crore to establish and upgrade computer rooms. Officials also sanctioned ₹2.48 crore under Composite School Grants and ₹41.80 lakh for library facilities.
In addition, TGBIE released ₹2.34 crore for laboratory consumables and practical examinations. Students also continued to receive free textbooks, uniforms, nutritious breakfasts and midday meals.
Officials said the combination of academic reforms, digital learning, welfare measures and infrastructure investment had increased public confidence in Government Junior Colleges. They added that the record Government Junior Colleges admissions reflected the growing preference for affordable and quality intermediate education in Telangana.