Need roadmap on BIE-SSC merger: TPJMA

Hyderabad: As the academic year is set to begin in less than a month, the Telangana Private Junior College Management Association (TPJMA) is seeking clarity on the government’s roadmap on the proposed merger of the Telangana Board of Intermediate Education (TGBIE) with the school education department.

In a general body meeting on Saturday, members of the association demanded that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy personally intervene and explain the government’s roadmap on the proposed merger, warning that decisions made without stakeholder consultation would cause disruption to the system.

“We are the ones providing quality intermediate education to more than half of the 9.5 lakh students in Telangana. We are not opposing the decision. But before making a decision, please consider the management associations of junior colleges, the nine lakh students, and their parents. If a proper roadmap is explained to parents and students, there will be no objections. This is our appeal to the CM,” TPJMA president Satish Gowri said.

The members said this uncertainty began on May 4, when the BIE issued an admission schedule for 2026-27, only to withdraw it the very next day. An official from the board informally indicated that discussions related to a possible merger of SSC and Intermediate education could be one of the reasons for the delay, adding that the board was instructed to keep the admission schedule on hold as possible structural changes in the education system are being examined.

The TPJMA pointed out that while some corporate institutions have already been running classes for two months, approximately 360 to 375 colleges that received affiliation through the Board are now left without a clear admissions process.

The government had, while proposing the merger, cited the increase in dropout rates among marginalised and weaker sections as the reason.

Attempts to contact TGBIE director Abhilasha Abhinav went in vain.