Non-payment biggest issue for institutions

Non-payment biggest issue for institutions

Kevin.Mendonsa@timesgroup.com

17.09.2021

Private schools, especially those catering to students from lower income groups in rural areas in the coastal districts, are in financially doldrums due to the pandemic and stringent government rules.

Managements of low-budget schools say another closure — perhaps for a possible third wave — would be the last straw. They say the biggest problem is poor fee collection because of which, they cannot pay their staff. Other reasons include delay in RTE reimbursement and stringent renewal rules.

“Since parents are not paying fees on time, staff are at the receiving end,” said Moosabba P Beary, vice president, English Medium Schools Association, Dakshina Kannada district. The district has about 300 private English medium schools. “Some schools have not paid salaries to staff ever since the pandemic struck and teachers were forced into menial jobs to run their families. Some relatively new schools are on the verge of bankruptcy,” Beary said.

Beary said by ordering schools to cut fees by 30% and warning managements not to force parents to pay, the government has been unfair to private schools. “If there is another wave of infections and a lockdown is imposed, many schools will have to shut for good,” he said.

Rasheed Vittal of Ukkuda Public School in Vittal said the government has increased renewal rules from 30 to 52. Some of them include obtaining fire and safety licences, PWD licence, health and hygiene certificates and child safety certificates.

“Every licence or certificate comes with a fee. How can cashstrapped schools pay when they are unable to even pay their staff?” Vittal said. “Besides, only some schools have received half the RTE reimbursement amounts.”

Another stakeholder said that the government can commence offline classes for LKG to grade five in phases. “Children should be allowed to come to campus thrice a week,” he said. When contacted, Malleswamy, DDPI of DK, said no school has requested for closure so far.