A 15-day ‘Vidya porata yatra’ (Campaign for struggle to save education) was flagged off on Monday, with the demand of KG to PG Free Education through government institutions.
There were other demands to withdraw the proposed Private Universities Bill, cancelling allocation of 1,000 acres of land to Reliance Group, and withdrawal of the proposed ‘New Education Policy-2016’. Addressing the rally after the inaugural programme, T-JAC chairperson M. Kodandram called for improving the equality in education by way of common schooling and strengthening of government institutions.
Remove distinctions
Even among government schools, there are distinctions between Navodaya schools, model schools and ordinary schools, which should be flattened out and students of all backgrounds should be given the same education, he said.
He, along with educationist Chukka Ramaiah, flagged off the tour from Gun Park which reached Osmania University as a rally and from there, took off to Mahabubnagar by bus. “The contingent has representatives from 11 unions including student, teacher and youth organisations,” said K. Laxmi Narayana, the Organising Secretary of the Committee.
“They will go to universities, colleges in all districts of Telangana and conduct public meetings too, to campaign in favour of the demands,” said Mr. Laxmi Narayana.
Academic G. Haragopal, who is the general secretary of the committee, will participate in the tour for the first two days. Demands are also being made for teacher recruitments, and pre-primary education in government schools, Dr. Laxmi Narayana said.
