HYDERABAD: The Government plans to launch a drive against collection of hefty fees and donations by private school managements in the State bringing relief to parents. The exercise would start shortly, according to the Minister for School Education, N. Rajyalakshmi.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, she said the problem was common in all districts and the issue needed to be dealt with elaborately. She blamed the previous TDP regime for the sorry state of affairs in the schools in the State and said the Government was serious in improving the conditions.

"Our Government came into office only last year and you cannot expect it to provide all the facilities in just one year."

`Government committed'

She said last year the Government spent over Rs. 500 crores on construction of over 1,000 new school buildings. Nearly 7,000 classrooms were constructed apart from, 1,900 toilets while 4,092 schools were provided with drinking water facility. She reiterated the State Government's commitment to provide best of facilities to schoolchildren in the next three years and education to all by 2008.

Stating that the Badi Baata programme held from June 6 to 11 was a huge success in terms of admitting children, she said more than 8 lakh children including dropouts and those who never enrolled in schools were brought to school. Dropouts in fact have been reduced by 10.66 per cent this year compared to the previous year. She said it would be a continuous programme and efforts would be made to enrol every child of school going age in schools.

School books

The Minister said steps have been taken to supply books to schools on the opening day itself. She said 5.80 crore books have been printed of which 3.89 crore have already been sent to schools while the remaining were either in districts or mandals waiting to be lifted. She promised that there wouldn't be any shortage of books.

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