Hyderabad: Retired IAS officer Akunuri Murali has stepped down as chairperson of the Telangana Education Commission (TEC), four months before the scheduled end of his term. He assumed the role in September 2024. In a letter dated May 22 addressed to the chief secretary, Murali stated that since the task of submitting a comprehensive report on education reforms with recommendations had been completed, he was resigning from the post.
Reasons Behind the Resignation
While Murali could not be reached for a comment, sources indicated that he was keen on the state government implementing major recommendations from his report, particularly regarding school fee regulation. The TEC had recommended that school fees be increased by 10% to 15% once every three years. However, the government has yet to enforce this rule. Meanwhile, schools continue to arbitrarily hike fees annually, with increases ranging from 20% to 50%.
Key Recommendations of the TEC Report
- Merger of the SSC (Secondary School Certificate) and Intermediate boards.
- Running schools from Kindergarten to Class 12 instead of having separate junior colleges.
- Increasing minimum pass marks from 35 to 45.
- Reducing the salaries of teachers in underperforming schools.
The government has referred the commission's report to a committee led by government advisor K. Keshava Rao.
Murali's Experience and Background
Murali brings over four decades of experience in government administration. He served as district collector and magistrate of Bhupalpally district in Telangana. He also held key positions including Director General of Telangana State Archives, managing director and vice-chairman of Telangana Seed Development Corporation, and chief executive officer of the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP).
