TELANGANA SOCIAL STUDIES FORUM
Origin and Leadership
The TSSTF was established in 2014 during a training camp for District Resource Persons (DRPs) representing the ten districts of Telangana. The forum was formed in the presence of Social Studies School Assistants, and a state committee was elected unanimously.
Elected State Leaders:
President: Gaddameedi Rathanga Pani Reddy
General Secretary: Meesa Raja Mallaiah
Treasurer: Gundu Venkateshwarlu
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Key Activities and Achievements
Administrative & Academic Reform
TLM Grants: Secured government orders ensuring Social Studies departments receive a fair share of the Teaching Learning Material (TLM) grants, which were previously dominated by Mathematics and Science departments.
Exam Scheduling: Addressed the issue of Social Studies exams being scheduled last during home examinations. Previously, teachers faced extreme pressure to evaluate papers for five classes and issue progress reports within two days of the final exam in April. Through representation to the SCERT, the forum successfully changed the schedule so that exams are distributed (some in the middle and some at the end) to reduce the workload.
Teacher & Student Support
English Medium Training: Organized training programs to enhance the English language skills of teachers to meet the challenges of teaching Social Studies in English medium.
Competitions: Organized speech competitions at mandal, district, and state levels regarding the life of Mahatma Gandhi during his 150th birth anniversary celebrations.
Talent Tests: Since 2018, the forum has conducted "Pratibha Patava" (Talent) tests for 10th-grade students in government schools (Govt, ZP, TGMS, KGBV) at various levels, continuing to date (excluding the 2021–22 COVID period).
Digital Resources: Provided annual, lesson, and period plans in digital format to save teachers' time and reduce stress.
Study Materials: Developed and distributed study materials for 10th-grade students state wide, with materials for other classes currently in development.
Innovation & Pandemic Response
COVID-19 Support: During the pandemic, the forum created worksheets and digital content to facilitate online classes for students.
Official Website: Established a dedicated website: https://telanganasocialstudies.blogspot.com/ with the help of donors and teachers to provide a centralized hub for all teacher and student services.
