Telangana polytechnic staff threaten to restart protests over GO 97

The Telangana Polytechnic JAC has threatened to resume protests, including examination boycott, if the government fails to issue a formal order by September 25 retaining polytechnics under the Technical Education department and SBTET, despite recent assurances from officials.

Hyderabad: The Telangana Polytechnic Joint Action Committee (TP JAC) has threatened to restart a series of protests, including boycott of examinations, if the Telangana Congress government fails to issue a new GO, retaining polytechnics under the Technical Education department and SBTET, by September 25.

In a statement on Wednesday, the TP JAC said considering the present developments, the JAC temporarily paused but did not completely withdraw protests or demands.

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“If the government fails to issue a new GO addressing or providing a satisfactory resolution to demands by 8 pm on September 25, the JAC will resume its democratic protest programmes and announce further action, including the boycott of examinations,” it said.

Asking all 59 government polytechnic colleges to gear up for protests, the JAC said their representatives would submit letters at respective colleges, informing them about examinations boycott. The protest would be carried out peacefully and democratically.

“Our objective is to protect the future of polytechnic education, our departments and the academic interests of every polytechnic student in Telangana,” it added.

For more than a month, polytechnic students and staff are up in arms against the government’s GO 97 that merges polytechnics with the Young India Skills University. Following protests, the government constituted a high-level committee that held talks with TP JAC and students.

The government through the committee recently clarified to students and staff that polytechnics would continue under the Technical Education department, with no changes being made to the diploma education. However, a formal order copy is yet to be issued by the government.