Enough budgetary allocation to education department: Sabitha

Hyderabad: Education Minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy has disagreed that the education sector was given lesser budgetary allocations in this year budget.

Speaking on Education Demand in Assembly even as Congress MLAs boycotted her address because of her shifting loyalties to the pink party, Sabitha said that funds spent were not from the Education department alone, but other departments like welfare also pitch in for running of residential and Gurukul schools, overseas scholarships etc, she pointed out.

It may be mentioned Education Department was allocated Rs 18,600 crore this year.

Sabitha tried to address the concerns of some of the members over lack of VCs and shortage of teaching faculty in universities in the State.

The minister said that search committees of all universities had sent their proposals and names finalisation would be done in the coming days.

Also, a decision has been taken to fill 1,000 posts in universities, she added. She thanked Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao for taking several revolutionary measures right from the establishment of various residential schools, English medium government schools, giving fine rice to students under Mid-Day Meal scheme, increasing salaries of vidya volunteers and contract lecturers in junior and degree colleges in the last five years.

"Not to differentiate students enrolled in residential schools of different categories, a common food menu is being followed in all schools every day," she explained. The Education Minister stressed that her government was committed to regulating exorbitant fees in private schools.

A case pertaining to this is pending in Court and likely to be listed in next few weeks. Once we get clearance, due steps would be taken.

Sabitha felt that establishing new government junior colleges at present was not preferable as many existing colleges do not have permanent buildings and the focus should be on completing them.