Wed Dec 10 18:32:25 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
A report by the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) highlights Telangana’s significant strides in higher education, evidenced by a high Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) and a large number of higher education institutions. However, the report raises concerns about the small size of many institutions, increased privatization, and low government spending on education relative to the state’s overall economic performance. Experts emphasize the need for Telangana to address inequalities in access to quality education, rising private costs, faculty vacancies, and governance issues related to university affiliations.
News Article:
Telangana’s Higher Education Boom Faces Quality, Funding Concerns
HYDERABAD, Dec. 11, 2025 – Telangana has made remarkable progress in higher education over the past three decades, boasting a high Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 40% and a significant number of higher education institutions per capita. However, a new report by the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) warns that this expansion faces critical challenges.
The report, titled ‘Higher Education in Telangana: Facts and Figures,’ points to the prevalence of small colleges, with nearly two-thirds having fewer than 500 students. More alarming is the state’s high reliance on private institutions.
“Telangana has the highest share of privately managed colleges or enrollments among all States,” the CESS report claims.
The most pressing concern, experts say, is the state’s relatively low financial commitment to education. While the national average for state spending on education is at or above 3% of GDP, Telangana allocates only around 2%. This disparity leads to increased private costs for students and raises concerns about the quality of education, governance, and the burden of affiliation placed on a few universities.
Speaking at the report’s release, CESS founder Sukhadeo Thorat emphasized the need to address inequalities in access to quality education and faculty vacancies within universities. Jandhyala B.G. Tilak of the Council for Social Development highlighted that while quantitative expansion is commendable, rising privatization is a significant concern. Shanta Sinha, former chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, called the privatization of education “undemocratic, exclusionary, and unequitable.”
The report serves as a stark reminder that while Telangana has made significant strides in expanding access to higher education, ensuring quality, affordability, and equitable access remains a critical challenge for the state.
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