Published Nov 11, 2026 | 6:19 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 11, 2026 | 6:19 PM
A government school in Telangana.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday, 11 November, directed officials to introduce a school system running up to Class 12 from next year, and said the reforms are aimed at students’ interests.
In a review meeting with the Education Department at the MCR HRD Institute in Hyderabad, he said the government wants to prepare students for the modern world through quality teaching from nursery to university.
Under the structure he outlined, nursery to Class 4 will be primary education, Classes 5 to 8 secondary, and Classes 9 to 12 senior secondary.
Reddy said students should gain a firm grasp of language and communication skills by Class 12. They should also be free to pick a subject of their choice and specialise in it afterwards, he added.
He said that around 40 per cent of students, on average, quit education after Class 10, most of them girls and children from Dalit, tribal and minority communities.
Institutions that run up to Class 12, such as Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, report very few dropouts in comparison, he noted. He added that 18 states already follow the model.
The move effectively brings Classes 11 and 12, now taught in separate junior colleges, into the school system.
Earlier this year, the Chief Minister had deferred merging Intermediate with school education for the 2026-27 academic year, citing limited time and technical hurdles. Lecturers’ associations have opposed the merger and warned of protests.
On Wednesday, he assured that the employment and retirement benefits of junior college lecturers and non-teaching staff will not be affected by the move.
The Chief Minister directed officials to take up measures to improve the conditions of government schools in the state. He said welfare hostels and residential schools must not function from rented buildings under any circumstances.
He asked officials to begin work immediately on building them with full facilities, promising funds. Schools, hostels and residential schools should also get toilets with proper water supply, he said.
Reviewing the Young India Integrated Residential Schools, he directed officials to speed up construction, finish within deadlines and not compromise on quality at any stage.
He also asked officials to expedite the recruitment process for the posts of assistant professors, associate professors and professors in state universities.
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(With inputs from Sreshta Ladegam. Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
