Telangana eyes 10+2 Shift

Big Reform raises Bigger Questions  

mahesh avadutha I hyderabad

Telangana is poised for a major overhaul of its education system, with the Congress government keen on adopting the 10+2 model of schooling, bringing it in line with 18 other states across the country. The proposed reform seeks to replace the existing Intermediate system by merging the SSC and Board of Intermediate Education into a single, unified board modeled along CBSE lines.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy recently hinted at this transition, triggering widespread discussions among stakeholders. While the move is being seen as a step towards streamlining education, it has also raised several operational and structural questions.

According to sources in the Board of Intermediate Education, the idea is not entirely new. “The shift to a 10+2 system was almost finalized during the tenure of late Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy between 2004 and 2009. It aimed to curb the dominance of corporate colleges and regulate high fee structures, but could not materialize due to his untimely demise,” sources said.

Professor P L Vishweshwar Rao, a member of the Telangana Education Commission, emphasized that the transition would be gradual. “The shift to the 10+2 format will be implemented in phases, keeping the interests of students and stakeholders in mind. Already, 18 states are following this system,” he noted.

Highlighting student benefits, he added, “Students will be spared the burden of writing board exams for three consecutive years as is the case now with 10th, Junior Intermediate, and Senior Intermediate. Under the new system, board exams will be limited to 10th and 12th.” He also assured that existing students would be given sufficient time to clear pending subjects.

The reform, however, poses significant implications for the state’s approximately 425 standalone Intermediate colleges. 

Vishweshwar Rao explained, “These colleges will have the option to integrate school education into their institutions, as there will be no standalone junior colleges under the new system. They will be given a transition period to adapt.”

A private college founder outlined possible pathways for such institutions. “The National Education Policy suggests that Classes 9 to 12 form part of high school. Colleges can either add full-fledged schooling from primary to 10th or limit expansion to Classes 9 and 10, depending on infrastructure and financial feasibility,” he said. In urban areas, space constraints may push colleges to collaborate with existing schools.

“They can enter into MoUs with schools, operate under a common identity, and function as a single unit,” he added. He also pointed out that many CBSE and ICSE schools have already integrated Classes 11 and 12, especially after the pandemic.

However, concerns are mounting among lecturers, particularly in government Intermediate colleges. With nearly 4,500 lecturers in the system, uncertainty over their roles remains a key issue.

Syed Zabee, a government college lecturer and TGO Minority wing president, expressed cautious support. “We are on the same page with the government when it comes to improving the education sector. But we have not been taken into confidence,” he said. Raising practical concerns, Zabee added, “There is no clarity on how institutions will function, how college principals will adapt, or how we can guide students and parents when we ourselves are unsure.

” He urged the government to engage with stakeholders before finalizing the reform. As Telangana moves closer to adopting the 10+2 system, the reform promises long-term academic benefits but also demands careful planning to address institutional and workforce challenges.