Three days after the headmaster of Bandaramaram Zilla Parishad High School in Thungathurthy mandal of Suryapet district was placed on suspension, for severe negligence in administration and student enrolment, the District Educational Officer has placed four more teachers on suspension.

On July 15 (Wednesday), Headmaster M.A. Hakeem, who is in full additional charge, was given the suspension order and disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him. Officials noted that Mr. Hakeem was found to be severely negligent in the school’s administration, student enrollment, and provided false information, leading to the disciplinary action. He was reported to have issued Transfer Certificates to the several remaining students at the school resulting in the school having no students.

On Saturday, as per the directions of Suryapet District Collector Tejas Nandlal Pawar, DEO K. Ashok issued another order suspending four more teaching staff at the school, including School Assistant (Maths) P. Kotaiah, School Assistant (Telugu) K. Sujatha, School Assistant (Sciences) J. Geetha, and Secondary Grade Teacher K. Srinivas Naidu.

The order noted four reasons for the suspension — although Bandaramaram village had children in the school-age group, enrolment was down to zero this academic year. The headmaster and the teachers, an inquiry found, encouraged students in the village to join private schools and hostels by claiming that there were no facilities available at the school. A lack of coordination, along with consistent allegations and misinformation among the staff, led to the mismanagement of school rules and records.

While the school continued to remain in the spotlight for controversial reasons, with school officials presenting their own version, village leaders in Bandaramaram took the initiative to reopen the school on Saturday. They conducted a door-to-door campaign, meeting parents to explain the prevailing concerns and assuring them of efforts to improve the school’s functioning and development. The village sarpanch and elders managed to enroll nine students.

Published - July 19, 2026 07:33 pm IST