Negligence of govt alleged for non-upgradation of ZP schools

Nellore: When Corporate Junior Colleges are collecting exorbitant fee from the poor students, the proposal ofupgrading the Zilla Parishad High Schools into junior colleges like in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala has not been considered by the State government.

The ZP Chairman, who placed the proposal before the State government, along with a resolution passed by the ZP general body meeting for upgradation is now planning to launch direct agitation.

In fact, there is shortage of government junior colleges in rural areas. Consequently, private institutions have mushroomed and minting money from the poor students which has become a major burden for the parents.

So, ZP Chairman B Raghavendra Reddy had proposed to upgrade the secondary schools into Inter colleges where the students can continue their intermediate education without any additional financial burden. ZP general body meeting had passed a resolution on June 16, 2016for introducing 10+2 course to be run under the School Education department.

District administration had also sent the proposals to the State government for upgrading the secondary schools as higher secondary institutions in rural areas. The reason was that there are 250 ZP high schools in the district and every year around 20,000 students are appearing for the SSC exams and 92 per cent are getting through them.

Subsequently, they were facing shortage of government-run junior colleges for further collegiate education. There was neither plan for increasing junior colleges in rural areas nor converting these secondary schools as higher secondary schools till now.

Meanwhile, the state government had recently decided to upgrade 10 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) in the district as women’s junior colleges. But, there is no such provision for boys since they have to join either government-run junior colleges or any corporate college in their vicinity.

Municipal Administration department also started a residential junior college in VR College premises on pilot basis selecting merit students across the district. As part of mounting pressure on the State government, ZP Chairman along with some members are going on a protest on Thursday in the city against negligent attitude of the government for not upgrading the ZP schools.

“There is a shortage of junior colleges in rural areas from where thousands of students are scouting for junior colleges. Hence, we have proposed to upgrade the existing ZP schools to accommodate Intermediate sections for which we have also resolved. But, there has been no response from the government.

So, we are taking up a protest on Thursday along with members of teachers’unions and politicos demanding the facility for poor rural population. It saves additional financial burden on the government for infrastructure costs too,” said the ZP Chairman B Raghavendra Reddy.

Interestingly, Tamil Nadu has been offering intermediate course in higher secondary schools and local population are demanding for junior colleges like in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka for more focus on Intermediate education. YSRCP leader and the ZP Chairman saying the situation in Nellore is different where 55-60 per cent children were from rural background, who really need college education at an affordable fee structure.