Khammam, Kothagudem begin academic year without regular DEOs

The new academic year has begun without regular District Education Officers in Khammam and Kothagudem districts, raising concerns over school administration, distribution of educational materials, implementation of welfare schemes and the overall functioning of the education department.

Khammam: Even as Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy claims that the State government is committed to providing quality education in government schools, the current academic year in Khammam and Kothagudem districts commenced on a chaotic note.

This was because the regular DEOs in both districts went on leave even before the start of the academic year. Khammam DEO Chaitanya Jaini, who went on a 20-day leave last month, joined duties on June 5 and again proceeded on a two-month leave.

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Special Deputy Collector Sadanandam was made in-charge of the department. Prior to Chaitanya Jaini assuming charge, Additional Collector Dr P Sreeja had acted as in-charge DEO for several months during the previous academic year.

Jaini was said to have acted independently in running the affairs of the department and had cracked the whip on 50 teachers in Khammam district in February 2026 for alleged negligence in discharging their duties. Such action was said to have put her in a difficult position.

It was being rumoured that district officials were facing challenges in discharging their duties due to political pressure and that such pressure might have prompted Jaini to go on a long leave. The fact that three district Collectors had been transferred in the district over the last two-and-a-half years was lending weight to these rumours.

Similarly, Kothagudem DEO Vasanthi, who assumed charge on June 2, went on leave the very next day. As no one has been assigned in-charge responsibilities in the interim, one coordinator, Behind, and Assistant Director Shambhu Prasad are looking after the affairs of the department.

With the absence of regular DEOs in both districts, activities such as the distribution of textbooks, notebooks and uniforms to students, monitoring of mid-day meals, and the adjustment of teachers and officials in place of retired personnel have been affected.

The DEOs are responsible for ensuring the implementation of Central and State government schemes and operational guidelines across all schools. Parents have been urging education department officials to intervene and streamline the department, as in-charge DEOs may not be able to discharge their responsibilities effectively.