Revanth Calls for Transformative Education, Urges Teachers to Shape Global-Ready Students

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy interacted with a team of teachers who recently toured Finland and Germany, emphasizing the need for transformative changes in the education system to prepare students for global competition.

Highlighting the vision of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the Chief Minister said Nehru prioritized education and irrigation to meet the country’s needs and believed that education was the foundation for societal transformation. He also noted that Nehru recognized the importance of irrigation in eliminating drought and famously described irrigation projects as “modern temples.”

Revanth Reddy said that the foresight of earlier leaders enabled Telangana to produce 28.5 million metric tonnes of paddy today. He credited initiatives like the Green Revolution and Five-Year Plans for strengthening the country’s food security and education systems.

At the same time, he stressed that providing basic education alone is no longer sufficient. “Every student must be equipped to compete with the world,” he said, adding that quality education and nutritious food must go hand in hand.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the state is spending ₹1.08 lakh per student annually, compared to about ₹50,000 spent by parents in private schools. He urged introspection on why parents still prefer private institutions despite higher public investment.

He highlighted key reforms undertaken by the government, including breakfast provision from nursery to Class 12, teacher recruitment and promotions, conversion of ITIs into Advanced Technology Centres, and the establishment of a Skills University with global corporate leaders on its board.

“Education is not just about knowledge; it must include skills,” he said, questioning the notion that English alone determines success and citing countries like China as examples of alternative growth models.

Calling for a shift in focus, he said India should look beyond the United States and learn from countries like Germany, Japan, and Singapore, where opportunities are expanding.

Revanth Reddy emphasized that teachers play a crucial role in building students’ awareness of the world. He assured them that addressing teachers’ issues is his responsibility, while urging teacher unions to fight for students’ welfare.

He called on teachers to commit the next five years to transforming society and shaping future generations, and to submit a detailed roadmap by December for the upcoming academic year. He also proposed forming cluster-based plans at the mandal level.

The Chief Minister reiterated that discipline alongside education is essential for success and highlighted ongoing reforms in government schools, including the provision of breakfast and lunch for both students and teachers.

Stressing the importance of human relationships, he said children act as “stress busters” for parents and noted that teachers share equal responsibility with parents in shaping students’ futures.

He announced plans to send teachers abroad annually, similar to IAS and IPS officers, to study global best practices, with the government bearing the expenses.

“I am not working for votes or politics. My goal is to deliver quality education,” he said, urging teachers to take a pledge to carry forward this vision and transform Telangana into a model state for the nation.