Hyderabad Teachers Voice Strong Opposition to Government's Coaching Institute Partnerships
Government schools in Hyderabad have formed partnerships with private coaching institutes to deliver content aligned with JEE and NEET preparation. This move has sparked significant criticism from educators across the state.
Teachers Call Partnerships Unnecessary and Harmful
Teachers argue these partnerships create unnecessary burdens for students. Many children already struggle with basic classwork according to educators. Adding competitive exam preparation only increases their stress levels.
Ch Durga Bhavani, headmistress of a government high school, expressed clear concerns. She stated the government failed to understand ground realities before implementing these partnerships. Students do not need JEE and NEET-aligned content at this stage she emphasized. They can learn such material during intermediate level studies.
Mobile Phone Addiction and Access Issues Emerge
Bhavani highlighted another worrying consequence. Children are becoming addicted to mobile phones because of these tie-ups. Students must spend specific hours each week completing online modules. This requirement forces increased screen time.
Many hosteller students face additional challenges. They lack internet access after school hours. This prevents them from completing assigned work. The digital divide creates unequal learning opportunities.
Teachers Reduced to Facilitators Instead of Educators
Government teachers report their roles have changed dramatically. They now function as facilitators rather than conducting regular classes. Their primary task involves showing video lessons supplied by coaching institutes.
Chava Ravi, a government teacher, questioned the effectiveness of this approach. Students simply watch videos instead of engaging in interactive learning. He noted the JEE and NEET-aligned coaching shows minimal success rates so far.
Teachers Propose Alternative Approach
Educators suggest a different strategy if the government remains serious about competitive exam preparation. They recommend starting coaching from class six for academically bright students. This coaching should be delivered by qualified teachers rather than private institutes.
The teachers believe this approach would be more sustainable. It would maintain educational quality while avoiding dependency on external organizations.
Government Defends Policy Decision
The Telangana Education Commission has responded to these criticisms. PL Vishweswar Rao, a commission member, explained this was a policy decision. The government aims to improve education quality in government schools through these partnerships.
Rao emphasized no fees are charged for these services. The tie-ups solely intend to enhance educational standards. The government views this as a positive step toward better learning outcomes.
The debate continues between educators implementing these programs and government officials defending them. Both sides present strong arguments about what constitutes effective education reform.
