Fee not paid, private schools deny online classes to 634 students

Chandigarh

Private schools in Punjab have discontinued online classes for 634 students who have not paid fee since March. Official records show that 47 teachers have not been paid salary.

Onkar Singh of Nawanshahr said, “My son’s school has discontinued his online classes because we have not paid fee for two months due to the Covid crisis. There was a medical emergency at home and I had to shell out a lot of money. The school has decline my request for partial payments.”

A school director in Bathinda district said, “We are not a rich school and do not have a strong financial backup. We have to pay our teachers and the entire staff.” The Education Department has already announced that schools should not strike off the names of students “just because parents are not able to pay the fee”.

A school representative said, “We have informed the department that we have asked parents to pay the fee in easy instalments, but we cannot waive off the entire amount. Why is the department not disbursing money to schools from its own resources?”

Krishan Kumar, Secretary (Schools), said, “We are providing free education to children in our schools. Anyone in need can join us. More than one lakh students have shifted from private schools to government institutes this year. At the same time, we are warning private schools against striking off the names of students just because they are unable to pay fee.”

47 schoolteachers without salary

• Official records show that 47 schoolteachers have not been paid salary
• The Education Department has already announced that schools should not strike off names of students over unpaid fee
• A school director in Bathinda district says they do not have a strong financial backup. They have to pay salaries to teachers and other staff