Telangana prisons launch open‑school education scheme for inmates

The Telangana Prisons Department has started an open‑school programme that lets inmates study for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Intermediate exams. Principal Secretary to the Education Department Yogita Rana inaugurated the scheme in Hyderabad on November 7, 2026, with DG of Prisons and Correctional Services Soumya Mishra and other senior officials present. Eighty‑five prisoners have signed up; 70 want SSC classes and 15 aim for Intermediate in the current academic year. The programme, run with the Telangana Open School Society (TOSS), will provide study material, academic support and regular classes on Sundays and second Saturdays, with additional days as needed by the prisons. There is no upper age limit for enrollment, and inmates who finish Intermediate can apply for higher‑education courses if they meet admission rules. Rana announced a fee concession of ₹1,250 per inmate and said special TOSS centres will be set up inside prisons, along with libraries to promote reading. She also offered to help children of prisoners who face schooling difficulties, asking them to send requests through the DG of Prisons. Mishra said the initiative goes beyond custody, focusing on correction, rehabilitation, education and skill development, and that education helps prisoners rebuild their lives. TOSS Director K. Lingaiah pledged staff support for conducting classes. Information brochures outlining the scheme were distributed at the launch.

Context

Open‑schooling lets adults study without attending a regular school, a model used across India to reach learners who cannot join conventional classes. Providing education in prisons aims to improve post‑release employment prospects and reduce recidivism.