From primary to higher education, aided institutions have shaped countless students in society. But due to government policy decisions, these institutions now stand on the verge of disappearing. Citing the excuse of ‘lack of students’, steps have been taken to shut them down. Educationists believe that this situation has arisen solely because successive governments failed to support these institutions, which were originally established with student welfare in mind.
Across the state, 53 institutions operate under various managements, but now only 10 to 12 remain functional. Even these have become nominal institutions because many of their teachers have retired. The existing institutes have barely over two thousand students in total. Only about 250 teaching and non-teaching staff currently work in them, and most of them are also due to retire within the coming year.
In the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh, a few educationists established these institutions in private colleges with government approval to promote education among the poorer and weaker sections. As per the decision of then Chief Minister Jalagam Vengal Rao, from 1977 onwards, girls institutes that completed five years were brought under the grant-in-aid system. Later, although the N T Rama Rao government made a policy decision on this matter in 1985, it was never implemented.
Through the introduction of Article 37 and Article 26, attempts were made to weaken the system. From then on, recruitment in these institutes came to a halt. The government also stopped providing grants. Along with this, changes were made in institute permissions and policies. The authority to grant permissions was shifted to the Intermediate Board, which led to a mushrooming of private institutes. As a result, aided institutes, with their decreasing student numbers, have been pushed into a state where their very existence has become questionable.
● The government also neglected recruitment of teachers.
Between 1996 and 2006, no recruitments took place. Further, in 2005 the government issued GO 33, which ordered that courses with low student enrollment be cancelled. Teachers working in such courses were transferred to government institutes under the name of ‘re-employment’ this was completely contrary to GO 89.
For a decade, the government informally enforced a ban on recruitment. Finally, in 2006, it issued GO 35, effectively closing the door on the future of the aided system. Because of this order, vacancies arising from retirements or promotions have not been filled. As a result, eleven institutes across the state have shut down.
In Hyderabad, long-established institutions like Nagarjuna, St Ann’s, Friends, St Joseph’s, Chanakya and Ramachandra which had educated and shaped thousands of students were closed. In Warangal, the renowned Pothana institute shut down in Khammam, Viveka and AP institutes closed and institutions in Rangareddy and Nalgonda districts also met the same fate. Many teachers working in aided institutions were also transferred to government institutes for teaching under the ‘re-employment’ system.
Teachers still working in scattered institutions face another challenge salaries are being delayed for months together. In every respect, both from the students side and the teachers side, aided institutes have reached a stage where complete closure seems imminent. Even now, the government must pay attention to these institutions. Before shutting them down, it must consider the long-term benefits and losses, and ensure that students are not harmed.