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New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Lapses in food safety persist in Telangana schools despite SOPs, multiple poisoning cases reported
HYDERABAD: The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) introduced by the state's School Education department to maintain food quality in government-run schools and hostels have not been fully enforced, despite multiple food poisoning incidents being reported annually from these institutions. The SOPs, launched in September last year on a pilot basis in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) hostels and urban residential schools, were later claimed to have been implemented across all government, social welfare, tribal welfare and minority educational institutions in the state. However, reports from the ground suggest otherwise. Several recent and past food poisoning cases, including those at Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Gurukul School in Laxmipur mandal (Jagtial district), Mudigonda Tribal Ashram Girls School, Government High School in Munaganoor, and Tribal Ashram High Schools in Asifabad and Mancherial, point to continued lapses in hygiene and food safety protocols. According to sources, self-help groups assigned to prepare mid-day meals in many schools often do not follow basic food safety norms. Meals are reportedly left uncovered, raw materials are poorly stored, cleanliness is not maintained, and supervision is minimal. Though the SOPs called for the formation of task forces to oversee food quality, this has not been implemented effectively, largely due to staff shortages and lack of dedicated funds. A key reason for weak enforcement, according to Telangana State United Teachers' Federation (TSUTF) General Secretary Chava Ravi, is the absence of Mandal Education Officers (MEOs) in most areas. 'Out of 620 mandals, only 16 have regular MEOs. In the rest, senior teachers or headmasters are handling additional responsibilities. This has led to poor supervision and failure to implement SOPs,' he said. Asif Hussain Sohail, president of the Telangana Parents Association for Child Rights and Safety, said the SOP initiative was positive in intent but poorly executed. 'In most state-run institutions, including SC/ST hostels and minority schools, there is no proper monitoring. We have made repeated representations, but no real action has been taken. The recent food poisoning cases are not isolated incidents – they reflect systemic negligence.'
Time of India
16-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Govt waives hostel fees for 45k OAV students
Bhubaneswar: Govt on Wednesday decided to waive the fee for boarders in 455 hostels of Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas (OAVs), which will benefit around 45,000 students. The students were paying hostel fees of Rs 2,000 per month, official sources said. The state has 314 OAVs comprising 100-seat hostels for both girls and boys. In these OAVs, 173 type-IV KGBV (Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya) girls' hostels are functioning in 173 educationally backward blocks. The expenditure for these hostels is borne under the centrally sponsored Samagra Shiksha scheme (60:40 share of central and state govts, respectively). In the rest of the 455 hostels (141 girls' and 314 boys' hostels), students were required to pay Rs 2,000 per month as fees. The state cabinet meeting on Wednesday approved bearing the cost of hostel fees for the students of the 455 hostels through state funding to provide equal educational opportunities to all, read an official statement. The total financial implication for the proposal is Rs 349.2 crore for five years from April 1 this year to March 31, 2030. Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya Sangathan was established in 2015-16 to provide quality teaching in English medium at the secondary level for children, especially in rural areas. To address the transportation problems in rural areas, the govt has set up hostel facilities in OAVs for needy students and those who are unable to commute every day from distant places.
Hans India
15-07-2025
- Hans India
Collector Emphasises Smooth Implementation of AI Training in Schools
Wanaparthy District: District Collector Adarsh Surabhi has mandated the seamless execution of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) training programme introduced in government schools, aimed at equipping children with essential computer education from an early age. On Tuesday morning, Collector Surabhi visited the Government High School in Kothakota Municipality and the Government High School in Manigilla village, located in Peddamandadi mandal. During his visit, he inspected AI training classes being conducted for students in classes 3 to 5 and closely monitored the students' interactions with computers. The District Education Officer (D.E.O) was asked to provide information on the number of schools conducting AI training and the availability of computers. The D.E.O revealed that computer training is currently being offered to students in classes 3 to 5 across 11 schools located within the same premises as the government high and primary schools. Additionally, it was noted that students in classes 6 to 12 at KGBV and Model Schools are also receiving computer training. Collector Surabhi underscored the importance of ensuring all schools providing computer training have a reliable internet connection and that students should wear headsets during AI sessions. He also stressed that each student must exclusively use their provided user ID. Inquiries were made about the distribution of the specially designed handbook for teaching tenth-grade mathematics. The Collector sought assurance that lessons are being taught in accordance with the handbook and that no student should fail in mathematics this year. Following the inspections, he evaluated the construction of additional rooms for a newly built school building, advising contractor Krishna Reddy to complete the work within the stipulated timeline. The Collector was accompanied by District Education Officer Mammad Abdul Ghani, Kothakota Tahsildar Venkateshwarlu, Peddamandadi Tahsildar Saraswati, CMO Mahanandi, and principals of various government schools during his visits.
Hans India
06-07-2025
- General
- Hans India
Mega parents-teachers meet on July 10
Nandyal: In a bid to strengthen school education and student development, Nandyal District Collector G Raja Kumari announced that a Mega Parents-Teachers Meeting will be held on July 10 across all government and private schools and junior colleges in the district. For the first time, this initiative will also include private institutions. The Collector urged parents, public representatives, officials, and the general public to actively participate in these meetings to discuss the academic progress and holistic development of students. Speaking at a meeting on Saturday, she said the meeting will be conducted in 1,959 schools, including 1,336 government and 619 private schools, as well as in 134 junior colleges—comprising government, KGBV, model schools, tribal, social welfare, BC hostels, and private institutions. During the sessions, parents will receive their children's progress reports, health status, and updates on the 'Talli Ki Vandanam' financial assistance programme. Teachers will engage with parents to discuss students' academic performance, co-curricular participation, and overall growth. Video presentations, sports activities, and interactive discussions are planned to make the meetings meaningful and inclusive. As part of the Green Passport initiative, students registered through the LEAP app will be gifted saplings, which they will plant under the campaign 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam'—a tree in their mother's name. To ensure smooth execution of the event, a special officer has been appointed for each school. Public representatives, including district ministers, will also be invited to join the mid-day meal program under the Dokka Seethamma Scheme, along with students and their parents. Further, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Mitra Kits will be distributed to students. A control room under the Joint Collector's supervision has been established at the District Collectorate to oversee the entire event.
New Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
11 girls from Kasturba school clear NEET exam after receiving free coaching
RANCHI: As many as 11 girls from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) at Karra in Maoist hotbed Khunti, have cleared National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). This is the first time that so many girls studying in any KGBV school in the state have cleared the prestigious national-level JEE Main exam. In addition to that, one girl from the CM School of Excellence of the district has also cleared this prestigious exam. Interestingly, all of them have achieved this success in their first attempt. Notably, the district administration is running the 'Sampoorna Shiksha Kavach' programme to prepare the girl students for medical and engineering at KGBV Karra and Kalamati, respectively. Many of the girls at both the centres have made this campaign meaningful by passing the medical and engineering exams. All these girls were provided with coaching under the 'Sampoorna Shiksha Kavach' campaign run at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya at Karra by Khunti District Administration.
