Telangana to scrap intermediate colleges, bring class 11 and 12 under schools

The Telangana government has announced that it will introduce a 10+2 grade education system in schools from the next academic year, effectively replacing the current system of treating the two years after matriculation as a separate ‘intermediate’ system.School education will be split into three main levels – primary (nursery to class 4), secondary education (classes 5 to 8), and senior secondary education (classes 9 to 12) – Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said on November 11 following a review meeting of the education department. Revanth Reddy also handles the education portfolio.The CM said that under the new system, students must be trained to have a command over language and communication skills by the time they complete class 12. He expressed concern over students discontinuing their education after class 10, with dropouts consisting predominantly of girls, and children from Dalit, tribal, and minority communities. He noted that dropout rates are significantly lower in government-run institutions such as Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, which offer continuous education up to class 12. So far, students enrolled in Telangana state board schools studied for the intermediate in junior colleges overseen by the Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education. These junior colleges, mainly run by a few private institutions in the Telugu states, usually have integrated coaching classes for engineering and medical entrance tests as their primary focus. They have come under criticism for years for placing excessive academic pressure on students. The CM also assured that the employment and retirement benefits of lecturers and non-teaching staff in junior colleges would remain unaffected. CM Revanth Reddy instructed officials to move government-run welfare hostels or residential schools out from rented buildings, and to construct hostels and residential schools equipped with full-fledged facilities. He also asked to ensure adequate toilets and water supply in all such government residential schools. He also directed officials to accelerate the recruitment process for Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and other faculty positions in state universities.