Increase Education Budget, Implement NEP 2020 Without Delay: BJP MLC Malka Komaraiah

BJP Teachers' MLC Malka Komaraiah has urged the Telangana government to substantially increase funding for the education sector, stating that the state's educational standards are steadily declining due to inadequate budget allocations and delayed reforms. He also called for the immediate implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, describing it as a crucial step toward improving both school and higher education.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Komaraiah alleged that Telangana allocates a significantly smaller share of its budget to education than many other states. He said several states earmark 14% to 18% of their total budgets for education, while Telangana allocates only around 7.2%, which he believes is insufficient to strengthen the sector and improve academic standards.

Komaraiah further claimed that nearly 90% of the education budget is spent on employee salaries, leaving very limited funds for infrastructure development, educational resources, innovation, and quality improvement initiatives. He urged the government to increase dedicated funding so that government schools and colleges can receive the support needed for long-term development.

The BJP MLC also stressed the need for a full-time Education Minister, arguing that the absence of dedicated leadership has affected coordination within the department and delayed important decisions. He said stronger leadership is necessary to oversee various wings of the education department and resolve pending issues efficiently.

Criticising the Congress government, Komaraiah alleged that it has failed to fulfil several education-related promises made in its election manifesto. He demanded concrete action to address the challenges faced by students, teachers, and educational institutions across the state.

While welcoming the government's proposal to establish new model schools, he said priority should first be given to upgrading existing government schools by improving infrastructure, administrative staffing, maintenance, and overall management.

Describing NEP 2020 as India's most comprehensive education reform in 34 years, Komaraiah noted that the policy is already being implemented by the Central Government and several BJP-ruled states. He urged the Telangana government to adopt it without further delay to bring comprehensive reforms to the state's education system and improve learning outcomes.