Aided schools drown in double crisis

The state government has not released salary grants to private aided schools for the past five months, raising serious concerns among teachers about their jobs and the future of the schools.

Since 1967, there has been an agreement between the school management committees of private aided schools and the state government. Under this agreement, the government contributes 95 per cent of the salary grant while the committees cover the remaining 5 per cent, along with full responsibility for school maintenance.

This is the second time in the past two years that teaching and non-teaching staff have been denied the government’s 95 per cent share of salary grants. Jaswinder Singh, president of the Aided School Union, Amritsar, said it is becoming increasingly difficult for school management committees in Punjab to even contribute their 5 per cent share, due to declining student enrolments and the absence of maintenance grants from the government.

“Since 1967, the government has not contributed anything toward the maintenance of school buildings some of which are over 70-80 years old. Yet, these committees continue to bear all costs, including electricity bills, school painting, building and furniture repairs, safety certifications, water machines and numerous other expenses. Now, the government is demanding income and expenditure records for the past three years while it continues to withhold its 95 per cent salary grant. Of the 9,468 sanctioned posts in these schools, 8,100 staff members have already retired and the remaining 1,300 are working without salaries for five to six months. How does the government expect us to function like this?” he questioned.

The Aided School Union had staged a sit-in protest outside the DPI office to demand the release of the grant. Although the government agreed to hold a panel meeting in response, the meeting has been postponed twice and no funds have been released. As a result, the union has announced that on Teachers’ Day (September 5), all current and retired employees of aided schools across Punjab will participate in a protest rally.

Principal Vikash Parashar echoed these concerns, highlighting that the postponement of meetings has left staff disheartened and desperate. Teachers in the rural border areas are now grappling with worsening flood conditions, which have severely impacted their living conditions, he added.

Ajay Chohan, Secretary of the Aided School Union, Amritsar, added that several aided school buildings in flood-affected areas have been shut down over the past week and teachers have been displaced. “It’s a double blow for them as not only have they gone unpaid for five months, but now they are also dependent on aid due to the floods,” he said.

The Aided School Union has announced that all current and retired employees of Punjab’s aided schools will boycott the government’s Teachers’ Day programmes and will hold a protest rally, wearing black bands in protest.