By Our Special Correspondent
The state government has expedited measures to bring municipal schools under the purview of the education department. A total of 2,095 schools are run by municipal corporations and municipalities in the state.
The Department of Education supplies uniforms, textbooks, notebooks, and other supplies to students. Municipal corporations and municipalities provide infrastructure such as school buildings, blackboards, benches and drinking water facilities, while a total of 44,780 schools are run by the government under the auspices of the Zilla Parishad, Mandal Parishad and municipalities. A total of 2,095 schools are overseen by municipalities.
The state government has decided to bring municipal schools under the supervision of the Department of Education. Teachers and teacher unions such as the Municipal Teachers Federation (MTF) oppose the government's decision and insist that municipal schools be overseen by municipalities and municipal corporations.
MTF leaders are holding meetings with the government's intention to bring municipal schools under the control of the education department and try to create awareness among parents, collaborators and other members of the public.
Municipal teachers allege that the state government is violating Municipal Act 74 passed by the Indian Parliament. According to municipal law, schools should be supervised only by municipal officials.
Education Minister Botsa Satyanarayana told the media on Monday that a high-level decision had been taken to merge municipal schools into the education department. Some MPs, MLCs and teacher unions are in favor of merging municipal schools into the education sector.
The decision, however, was opposed by a majority of municipal teachers. The main complaint against municipal schools is that the schools are overseen by municipal commissioners who are not affiliated with the Department of Education.
MTF President S Ramakrishna said that the municipal schools are functioning wonderfully and are achieving good results with the current policy. He said municipalities and municipal corporations could not co-operate with the education department in managing schools if the supervision of schools was handed over to the education department.
Education Minister Botsa Satyanarayana has made it clear that the government has no intention of seizing municipal properties and school buildings. He said the Department of Education only monitors the performance of municipal schools.
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