On Wednesday, May 6, parents, student unions, educators and political leaders met at the Hyderabad Press Club to demand an immediate government order regulating school fees in Telangana. The call for regulation follows years of criticism that private schools, many linked to political figures, have raised fees without oversight and that parents are increasingly forced into private education.

The Hyderabad School Parents Association president Venkat Sai questioned why Telangana lacks a fee‑control framework despite its decade‑old statehood and two-year Congress rule. He said the absence of regulation had allowed politically connected institutions to exploit parents.

Progressive Democratic Students Union leader Nagaraj said the weak public sector pushes families toward costly private schools, while a mothers’ organisation representative noted that many children in government schools cannot even write their own names. All India Students' Federation secretary Putta Laxman and Telangana Recognised School Management Association member Varalakshmi highlighted that around 1,200 budget private schools charge ₹900 to ₹3,000 per month and receive little state support.

Educationist Ram Shepherd warned that high fees create psychological pressure on families. Telangana Jagruthi president Kalvakuntla Kavitha demanded a government order, arguing that education is a social obligation and that corporate schools must not exploit parents. She called for district‑wide protests if the government fails to act.

The state government has not yet issued a fee‑regulation order. Stakeholders expect the next meeting of the Telangana education ministry to address the demand and to outline potential regulatory measures.