No Classes Today: Telangana Schools Observe Statewide Bandh on July 23

Schools and colleges across Telangana are largely shut today, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, as student organizations, including the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) and Students’ Federation of India (SFI), have enforced a statewide bandh. The protest aims to pressure the state government on various long-standing issues in the education sector.

While the Telangana government has not issued an official holiday notification, most private and government educational institutions have opted to suspend classes as a precautionary measure, citing safety concerns and potential disruptions. Many schools and junior colleges had already informed parents and students about the closure by Tuesday evening.

The bandh comes amidst a broader context of school closures in other parts of India today due to different reasons, such as the Kanwar Yatra in northern states and a day of mourning in Kerala for the demise of former Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan.

Key Demands of the Protesting Student Unions

The student unions have put forth a range of demands, highlighting perceived shortcomings and neglect within the state's education system. Their key demands include:

♦ Appointment of a Dedicated Education Minister: Currently, the education portfolio is held by the Chief Minister, A. Revanth Reddy. Students demand a dedicated minister to ensure focused leadership and policy decisions.

♦ Regulation of Tuition Fees: A major concern is the high fees charged by private schools and colleges, with unions pushing for strict legislation to regulate them.

♦ Release of Pending Scholarships: Students are demanding the immediate release of delayed scholarship funds and fee reimbursements.

♦ Filling of Vacant Teaching Posts: There are thousands of unfilled positions for teachers, Mandal Education Officers (MEOs), District Education Officers (DEOs), lecturers, and principals in government institutions, impacting the quality of education.

♦ Extension of Mid-Day Meal Scheme: The unions are calling for the mid-day meal scheme to be extended to junior colleges, particularly benefiting students from economically weaker sections.

♦ Improved Infrastructure: Demands include basic facilities like proper classrooms, labs, clean toilets, and benches in government institutions, along with permanent buildings for welfare residential schools and hostels operating from rented premises.

♦ Free Bus Passes: Students are advocating for free TSRTC bus passes to ease transportation challenges.

♦ Rejection of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: The student unions urge the Telangana Legislative Assembly to pass a resolution rejecting NEP 2020, arguing it is not suited for the state's educational model.

The bandh is expected to impact daily routines, especially in urban centers like Hyderabad and Secunderabad, with potential disruptions to public transport. District authorities are monitoring the situation to ensure law and order. Parents are advised to stay in contact with their respective school administrations for updates on when classes will resume.