Hyderabad: Admissions into government schools in Telangana have seen an unusual spike this academic year, with 2,56,156 students enrolled as of June 24—an increase of over 55,000 compared to the same date last year.
By June 24 last year, admissions had stood at 2,00,901. This year, within just two weeks of reopening, the schools have already crossed the 2.5 lakh mark.
First-grade admissions alone accounted for 1,07,126. Another 1,00,897 students joined in Classes 2 to 10. Notably, 48,133 of these were students who shifted from private to government schools.
The jump follows the June 6 launch of the ‘Professor Jayashankar Badibata’ campaign, which involved teachers and education officials visiting neighbourhoods to encourage enrollments.
Officials cited government initiatives such as free uniforms, textbooks, mid-day meals, English-medium teaching, and the claim that the state spends nearly ₹1 lakh per student annually. Teachers also promoted the idea that parents could hold schools accountable, stating, “If your child doesn’t learn, question us.”
The campaign stressed the availability of qualified teachers in government schools, in contrast to concerns over underqualified staff in many private institutions.
Rising private school fees were cited as another factor driving the switch. Teachers also pointed out that students from government schools are eligible for reservations in higher education, which influenced several families.
A number of government schoolteachers enrolled their own children in public schools, a move officials say helped build trust among parents.
