Schools across parts of Telangana are likely to face disruptions today after the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) called for a statewide school bandh, raising concerns over private school fee structures, government school infrastructure, and staffing shortages. The student organisation announced the shutdown as part of a protest seeking reforms in both private and government school education.The bandh call has led several private and corporate schools, particularly in Hyderabad, to declare a holiday in anticipation of protests. ABVP has appealed to students, parents and school managements to support the action, stating that long-pending issues affecting school education require immediate attention from the state government.Fee regulation at the centre of protestA key demand raised by ABVP is the introduction of a strict law to regulate fees charged by private and corporate schools. The organisation has alleged that several institutions are increasing fees without adequate oversight, placing a financial burden on parents.ABVP has also objected to practices such as compulsory purchases linked to school uniforms and other school-related requirements. The organisation said greater transparency is needed in admissions, academics and fee structures, and called for measures to prevent arbitrary fee hikes.The student body has sought comprehensive reforms covering nearly 23,000 private schools across Telangana. It has demanded the creation of a dedicated authority to monitor fee practices, inspect institutions and oversee annual fee revisions.Demands linked to government schoolsApart from fee regulation, ABVP has raised concerns regarding government schools. The organisation has opposed the state’s proposed school rationalisation policy, claiming it could affect thousands of government schools.The student body has also highlighted delays in the distribution of government-issued school uniforms, noting that many students have not received them despite the commencement of the academic year.ABVP further demanded immediate recruitment to fill vacant teaching and non-teaching positions in government schools. It also called for appointments to key administrative posts, including Mandal Education Officers and District Education Officers.Infrastructure and policy issues highlightedThe organisation has urged the government to improve infrastructure in educational institutions, including the construction of permanent buildings for residential Gurukul schools. It has also sought stricter monitoring of the mid-day meal programme to improve food quality and prevent food poisoning incidents.Among its demands are the implementation of fee regulation measures, enforcement of the 25 per cent reservation for economically weaker section students in private schools, and implementation of NEP-2020 provisions related to school education.Responses to the bandh announcement on social media reflected concerns from some parents, who questioned whether the shutdown would benefit students while disrupting classes at the beginning of the academic year.
