Educational institutions shut for fifth day

HEMA SINGULURI | Hyderabad 

Private, professional colleges across Telangana remain shut for the fifth day as the Federation of Private Higher Education Institutions in Telangana (FATHI) and managements lead a sustained fight on continuous shutdown demanding immediate release of outstanding fee-reimbursement dues. 

Started as deadline warnings, have now swelled into the on-going strikes from November 3rd, for a massive release. FATHI on November 6th, noted that The State-Level Private College Students’ Meeting, which was earlier planned for 11th November 2025, has now been rescheduled to 15th November 2025. All faculty, staff, and students of private affiliated colleges in Telangana were advised to participate in upcoming meetings. The Student Meeting has been rescheduled to November 15th, marking these gatherings as an aim to unite justice and to protect higher education.  

According to Dr. K Ramdas, Honorary President of Telangana Pharmacy and B.Ed. Colleges Managements Association and a key representative of FATHI, the state owes roughly Rs10,000 crore under the Reimbursement of Tuition Fee schemes and the federation is demanding at least 50 percent of the immediate release. Federation office bearers, chairman N. Ramesh, vice-president Aljapur Srinivas and treasurer Kodali Krishnarao re-affirmed that the colleges will remain closed and academic activities reduced until the government meets this demand. According to the FATHI’s statement, Colleges, MBA, MCA, B.Ed, D.Ed, Nursing, Law, Polytechnic, Paramedical Colleges nearly 1800 (Eighteen Hundred Colleges) have closed completely hundred percent followed BANDH call given by FATHI. 

A government promise to release Rs 1,200 crore before Diwali resulted in barely Rs 300 crore being paid. Now, 52 out of 61 pharmacy colleges affiliated to JNTU have boycotted the first-year B. Pharmacy 2nd semester exams over 90 percent of non-participation. FATHI has also mapped out large-scale protest actions, beginning with a major Bahiranga Sabha scheduled for November 8th at LB Stadium, Hyderabad, set to witness participation from over one lakh employees and faculty members from private colleges statewide. 

Requests and Demands 

Importantly, FATHI requests the Chief Secretary to include the banking and finance experts instead of more bureaucrats in the Trust Bank. The final demand as per FATHI members is to release immediately the Rs 5000 Crores out of Rs 10,000 Crores of Fee Reimbursement Dues. Beyond payments, FATHI also demands the Govt to transfer Sri Devasena, Incharge Secretary, Education Department that she is misguiding the CM and other ministers in all our academic issues. 

However, the state’s response has been a mix of negotiation and restriction. Officials have proposed committees and talks, says Dr. K. Ramdas. But the earlier failed commitments by the government to release sums before Diwali have raised concerns, re-igniting for larger, immediate payments now.