Hyderabad, July 30 : Telangana Chief Minister, A. Revanth Reddy, on Thursday slammed the Opposition for demanding his resignation as the education minister. He asked if he should quit the education portfolio for performing well and introducing various reforms.

The Chief Minister was speaking at an interaction session with a group of teachers who recently visited Finland and Germany.

â??Some people are demanding me to step down as education. Is it because breakfast is being provided from nursery to Class 12? Is it for properly managing teacher recruitment and promotions? Is it for transforming ITIs (industrial training institutes) into ATCs (advanced technology centres),â?? he asked

He also wanted to know if they were demanding his resignation for establishing a Skills University to equip students with necessary skills and for appointing owners of successful global corporate entities as Board members of the Skills University.

Stating that the Telangana government spends â?¹1.08 lakh on each student in government schools, CM Reddy said that as a result of reforms launched by his government in the education sector, an additional one lakh students have enrolled in government schools.

Asserting that education is not merely about skills, the Chief Minister stated that the government is striving to impart skills alongside education. After completing the 12th grade, a student should possess a comprehensive understanding of the world. It is the teachers who must foster that awareness among students.

He remarked that for 25 years, Indians looked towards America and said now they must focus on countries like Germany, Japan, and Singapore. There are abundant opportunities in those countries.

CM Revanth Reddy called for transforming government educational institutions in a way that makes the world look towards Telangana. He urged the teachers to dedicate five years to society and to transform the future of new generation.

â??Work with the goal of making Telangana a role model for the nation. Offer your own suggestions on what more can be done to provide quality education to students. Prepare a report by December outlining what should be done for the upcoming academic year,â?? he said.

He exuded confidence that Congress party will remain in power in Telangana until 2034. He made it clear that the government is prepared to incur any expense necessary for the students.

He announced that teachers will be provided opportunities to go abroad for further studies, like IAS and IPS officers do.

/IANS