Private schools seek more time to pay salaries

Updated: May 4, 2020, 16:54 IST

COIMBATORE: Responding to a communication from the district chief education officer (CEO) directing them to pay teachers and non-teaching staff members, representatives of private school associations said they are unable to do so as they are facing a funds crunch.
“We need more time to pay April’s salaries. We had to shut our institutions because of the lockdown. Only after reopening the schools and collecting the fee, would we be able to pay our teachers and other employees,” said R Visalakshi, president of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association.
Chief education officer P Usha said the department had sent a communication in March to principals of all matriculation schools, self-financing schools, nursery and primary schools, and CBSE schools to pay their staff. “They had paid salaries after the communication. Now, we have sent them another one, asking them to pay salaries for April,” she said.
The state government should allow private schools to open offices for conducting administrative functions, Visalakshi said. “Only if we open our offices, parents who might want to pay arrear fee could do it. We can also train our teachers in conducting online classes from June. We are not forcing parents to pay fees. Those who can afford, can pay, considering the strain schools are in,” she said.