Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari said that all universities in Telangana State should focus only on education and research. He said there should be place for meetings, political activities, drugs or ragging in any of the universities.
Addressing a meeting with Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of all universities of Telangana here on Sunday, the Deputy CM said that the universities should ensure proper implementation of academic calendar by holding classes, examinations and results on time.
He informed that the State Government has approved filling up of 1550 vacant posts in different universities and 1061 posts will be filled in the first phase. He also assured that the services of contract lecturers too would be regularised soon. He said that the decision on increase in salaries of universities’ staff would be taken after receipt of a report.
He said that the Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has also sanctioned Rs. 420 crore for the universities upgradation.
The Deputy CM said that the Telangana State got a good rank in the national survey on Higher Education 2016 conducted by the Union Ministry for Human Resources Development. He said Telangana was top in the country in imparting education to Scheduled Castes and it stands second in ST education.
He said this was achieved by brining various reforms in the education sector. He said MoUs were being signed with leading global universities to improve the standard of education in the State.
Speaking about Osmania University, the Deputy CM said that over-staying students have sought time till July 23 to vacate the hostels.
He said a decision in this regard would be taken after consulting the officials. However, he said all students, who are illegally staying in OU hostels, must vacate on immediate basis. He said Osmania University has given birth to many agitations and it played a major role in the movement for statehood for Telangana.
However, he said three years have passed since the formation of Telangana and therefore, the students should now focus on their academic career. He said no one would be allowed to use OU as a platform for their political activities.
The meeting was also attended by Telangana State Council for Higher Education (TSCHE) Chairman Papi Reddy, Special Chief Secretary (Education) Ranjeev Acharya, Higher Education Commissioner Vani Prasad, School Education Commissioner Ashok and other senior officials. (INN)