Hyderabad: As many as 108 inmates lodged in various prisons in Telangana were enrolled to appear in class x in collaboration with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).
Of the 108 inmates, 73 were from Cherlapalli, 20 from Nizamabad, five from Karimnagar, two from Mahabubnagar and eight from women’s prisons in Hyderabad.
The curriculum covers five subjects – Social Science, Economics, Business Studies, English, and a Second Language including Telugu, Urdu, or Hindi. These courses offered in three mediums of languages Telugu, English, and Urdu exams will be held in October 2025, with results in January 2026 and certificates awarded in February 2026.
Dr. Soumya Mishra, Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, reaffirmed the department’s commitment to the 3R’s – Reformation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration, stating that education remains the most powerful tool for transformation.
One prisoner from Nizamabad central prison shared that he had studied only up to Class V before incarceration. “No one ever told us how important education was. The circumstances never supported us to study further,” he said.
Another inmate from Mahabubnagar jail revealed that he had completed only Class VI outside prison and once contested for a councillor position, but was disqualified due to a lack of a Class X certificate. “Now, I have taken a vow to complete my Class X and other qualifications offered in jail, so I can pursue a political career after my release,” he stated with emotion.
A woman inmate from the special prison for women, Hyderabad, shared, “Outside, no one encouraged us, and the situation didn’t help either. Now, DG Madam, who is like a mother to us, has given us a great opportunity to study for Class X. This will help us continue our education and find jobs after release.”
The initiative was inaugurated at a special event attended by Soumya Mishra and other senior officials. As part of the program’s launch, inmate testimonials reflected the deep impact of the initiative.
Parampreet Singh, NIOS Director for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, applauded the Telangana prisons department for its forward-thinking approach. He assured full support to the program and highlighted the transformative power of education in correctional settings
The program fills a key educational gap by introducing a secondary course equivalent to class X for inmates, building on the prior literacy program “Thumb In – Sign Out” initiated by Telangana Prisons department and higher education program in partnership with BRAOU.
A MoU with NIOS was signed in 2024 to formally offer this academic program.
