Hyderabad: Tensions flare up at Secretariat as students protest over pending issues in education sector

Students from Left groups protested at the Secretariat in Hyderabad over poor education policies. They demanded a new Education Minister, action on student deaths, fee control in private schools, and release of pending scholarships and other student dues

Hyderabad: Tensions flared at the Secretariat as a large number of students affiliated to left-wing student organisations tried to besiege it, demanding that the State government address pending issues in the education sector here on Wednesday.

The situation turned chaotic after police personnel allegedly beat up some students and detained them, including women protesters. In view of the bandh call, students alleged that police carried out arrests from midnight in different districts.

The student organisations, including SFI, AISF and PDSU, on Tuesday called for schools and colleges bandh in protest against plaguing issues in the education sector.

Eighteen months into power, the Congress government has failed to appoint an Education Minister, which highlights neglect of the education sector in the State, students said.

Demanding the government appoint a dedicated Education Minister, students wanted the government to respond to a series of deaths in welfare residential schools. They also wanted a law to regulate fees in the private schools and junior colleges in the State.

Further, students demanded the government immediately release pending fee reimbursement arrears, scholarships, mess, and cosmetic charges of students.