Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday directed officials to make facial recognition-based attendance mandatory across govt schools, colleges, and universities for students, teachers, and staff. He also ordered immediate clearance of mid-day meal bills through the green channel, priority to sports promotion in institutions, and the consolidation of all construction works under one agency.

At a review meeting on the state’s education sector held at the command control centre, the CM stressed the need to raise quality standards and improve infrastructure across institutions. He said facial recognition would help improve attendance and eliminate gaps in professional colleges and other institutions.

On construction, the CM pointed out that multiple departments were currently handling works such as additional classrooms, kitchens, urinals, toilets, and compound walls, which diluted accountability. To address this, he directed that all education-related construction be brought under the Education and Welfare Infrastructure Development Corporation (EWIDC), which is already supervising Young India Integrated Residential Schools. Engineers and staff required for the works should be deputed to the corporation, he added.

Taking stock of pending bills, the CM instructed officials to clear dues related to the mid-day meal scheme and sanitation works under Amma Adarsha Schools without delay. He also directed officials to speed up the construction of urinals and toilets in women’s colleges and girls’ schools and to set up container kitchens with solar-powered cooking systems.

Revanth reiterated that the govt placed high priority on sports development, asking officials to recruit physical education teachers on contract if necessary. The appointment of female counsellors in welfare gurukul schools to address issues faced by girls was also discussed. Expenditure on education, the CM said, should be treated as an investment rather than routine spending.

He further said that deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka had appealed to Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to exempt loans taken for the development of educational institutions, including Young India Integrated Residential Schools, from the FRBM limits.

Highlighting that over 90 per cent of students in govt institutions belong to BC, SC, ST, and minority communities, Revanth directed officials to prepare a 10-year report on students who studied in govt institutions.