Gurukul students forced to attend neighbour colleges for practicals after centres removed
Hyderabad: Gurukul students across Telangana attended Intermediate practical examinations at neighbouring colleges this year. The Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education removed practical centres in nearly 80% of government gurukul colleges, triggering sharp criticism from employees and teachers’ unions.
The board’s decision affected hundreds of gurukul junior colleges. As a result, students travelled long distances to other government colleges to attend laboratory exams. Gurukul staff said the move caused avoidable hardship. They also claimed it increased financial pressure on the state.
Officials said the board withdrew permission because gurukul laboratories lacked CCTV cameras. However, employees’ associations called the explanation a sign of administrative failure under the Revanth Reddy-led government.
Gurukul department sources said Telangana has 1,023 gurukul institutions serving SC, ST, BC, minority, and general category students. More than 900 institutions offer education up to the Intermediate level. Over 75 function as degree colleges. Despite adequate laboratories, authorities allowed only about 20% of gurukuls to act as practical exam centres this year.
Gurukul practical centres removed citing lack of CCTV cameras
Teachers said the Intermediate Board made CCTV coverage in laboratories mandatory for the 2024–25 academic year. However, the government did not install cameras in most gurukuls. This failure led to the cancellation of practical centres on a large scale.
Gurukul employees warned that shifting students to external centres would require special transport and supervision. They said the exercise would cost the state several crores of rupees. According to them, the government could have used the same funds to install CCTV cameras in gurukul laboratories.
Teacher and employee unions demanded that the government immediately reverse the decision. They also warned that continued inaction would harm students both academically and psychologically.
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