By Mujahid.Md
As the Telangana government prepares to table the State Budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, the Students’ Islamic Organisation (SIO) Telangana has submitted a formal representation urging the administration to place education, student welfare, and youth development at the forefront of its fiscal priorities. The organisation called for decisive policy interventions to address the systemic gaps currently plaguing the education sector.
Expressing concern over the historical trend of underutilisation of funds, SIO Telangana pointed out that while substantial amounts are often earmarked for education and minority welfare, a significant portion remains unspent or delayed in execution.
“It is imperative that funds allocated for strengthening public educational infrastructure and supporting higher education institutions are utilised in a timely and comprehensive manner,” the organisation stated.
Key Demands
The SIO highlighted several critical areas requiring immediate budgetary and administrative attention:
Scholarship Disbursement: The delay in the release of Reimbursement of Tuition Fee (RTF) and Maintenance Fee (MTF) has left thousands of students in financial distress. The body demanded a transparent mechanism to clear all pending arrears immediately.
RTE Implementation: A primary demand included the effective implementation of Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. This would ensure the filling of approximately 90,000 seats (25% quota) in private schools for students from economically weaker sections.
Teacher Recruitment: SIO urged the government to expedite the DSC recruitment process, specifically highlighting the vacancy crisis in Urdu medium schools. Out of the 1,183 Urdu posts announced in DSC-2024, only 517 are reportedly being filled; the organisation demanded immediate filling of the remaining 666 vacancies.
Faculty Crisis in Universities: Highlighting a grim picture of higher education, SIO noted that out of 2,878 sanctioned faculty positions in state universities, only 753 are currently occupied. This massive vacancy rate is severely impacting academic standards.
Minority Welfare: In line with the Minority Declaration promises, the organisation sought the removal of administrative hurdles to ensure that the budget for minority student development and youth empowerment is spent effectively.
Speaking on the occasion, Mohammed Faraz Ahmed, State President of SIO Telangana, emphasised the need for accountability. “The delay in scholarships and the staggering number of vacant teacher posts are directly jeopardising the future of our students. The government must ensure that the 2026-27 budget is not just a collection of numbers, but a transparent commitment to the youth,” he said.
The SIO expressed hope that the upcoming budget would reflect a shift toward a more accountable and student-centric educational framework for the state.
