Telangana makes Telugu mandatory in all schools from 2025-26

The Telangana government has issued a directive making Telugu language education mandatory in all schools, including those affiliated with CBSE, ICSE, and IB. This will come into effect from the 2025-26 academic year for Class 9 students and will extend to Class 10 from 2026-27.

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The move aims to revive Telugu learning among students, as the language had largely been dropped from private and international schools. The state’s school education department confirmed that the mandate applies across all educational boards operating within Telangana.

The decision follows recommendations from the Telugu Classical Language Committee, which emphasized the need to strengthen Telugu education. An education department official stated that learning in one's mother tongue enhances overall academic and personal development.

Until now, Telugu was primarily taught in government schools, while private and international schools followed an English-medium curriculum. English was introduced as the primary medium in these schools before the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2008, and the trend continued even after Telangana was formed in 2014. Currently, one-third of Telangana's schools follow an English curriculum, sidelining Telugu education.

With this directive, the state aims to ensure that students retain a strong connection with their linguistic and cultural heritage. Schools will now have to implement Telugu language instruction as part of their curriculum, marking a significant step in preserving and promoting the language.