Rama Krishna Sangem
Private Colleges of Telangana have announced an indefinite closure from September 15, Monday in protest against the State government’s non-release of tuition fee reimbursement dues to them. FATHI (Federation of Associations of Telangana Higher Institutions) has taken this decision after a two day deliberations.
This will lead to shutting down of around 2,000 colleges, including those of BTech, pharmacy, BEd, MEd, MBA, MCA, nursing and degree and PG colleges in Telangana. All these colleges have been asking for payment of tuition fee reimbursement for students from the State government pending for the last few years. An estimate says, the total dues would be around Rs 8,000 crore to Rs 10,000 crore.
The decision to shut the colleges was announced by FATHI chairman Dr N Ramesh Babu, organising secretary Dr K Sunil Kumar, general secretary Dr KS Ravi Kumar and treasurer KKrishna Rao among others.
The managements of private colleges across Telangana have repeatedly represented to the State Government regarding the pending fee reimbursement dues and the urgent need for a revised, self-sustainable model of fee reimbursement. Despite constructive proposals submitted to ease the financial burden on the Government and ensure continuity of quality education, there has been no response from the authorities.
“The managements have specifically requested the immediate release of ₹1,200 crore fee reimbursement dues pertaining to already generated tokens for which budget has been duly allotted along with establishing the Fee Funding Bank. However, the Government has neither released the dues nor taken any steps to resolve the issue,” said a press release issued by the FATHI senior office bearers after they submitted a memorandum to Telangana Higher Education Council chairman Prof V Balakista Reddy in Hyderabad on September 12, Friday.
Private private institutions are in a severe financial crisis:
Faculty and staff salaries have remained unpaid for several months. • Many faculty members are unable to meet even their basic daily needs, forcing them to stop attending duties. •Academic activities in institutions have been disrupted, causing immense hardship to students.
With the Dussehra season approaching, thousands of families dependent on these salaries are left without any financial means to celebrate. The situation has reached such a state that managements are unable to even face their faculty and staff, who are in deep distress. This has drastically affected morale and academic standards.
The situation has reached such a state that managements are unable to even face their faculty and staff, who are in deep distress. This has drastically affected morale and academic standards, said the release.
Facial recognition, suffers all stakeholders
Instead of addressing this burning issue, the Government has recently called for a meeting of Vice-Chancellors to discuss implementation of facial-recognition–based attendance systems linked to the fee reimbursement scheme, said FATHI chairman Dr Ramesh Babu.
Such measures are aimed only at further reducing the reimbursement budget rather than solving the long-pending crisis. This will result in additional suffering for all stakeholders, managements, faculty, staff, and students. In view of this untenable situation, the private institutions of Telangana have unanimously decided to call for an indefinite closure of colleges with effect from Monday, 15th September 2025, which marks the birth anniversary of Sir Mokshagundam Visveswaraya, proudly celebrated as Engineer’s Day across the nation.
“If he were alive today, he would have felt deeply saddened to witness the present state of professional education in Telangana. In his loving memory, the private college managements of Telangana have resolved to observe Engineer’s Day as a Black Day and commence an indefinite strike on that day until the Government releases the pending fee reimbursement dues,” said Dr Ramesh Babu.
The managements deeply regret the inconvenience to students and parents, but hold the Government solely responsible for this crisis. education, faculty livelihoods, and the future of lakhs of students cannot be jeopardized any further, said Dr Ramesh Babu and other FATHI office bearers.