Pandemic blow to small private schools

JAIPUR: These days Aarif Hussain sells veggies and masks for a living. Though his earning is good enough to sustain his family, none in the neighbourhood knows about this. Aarif, who actually owns a private school, had to become a vendor to keep the money flowing after going almost bankrupt because of the pandemic.
There are hundreds of such small private schools in the state which are trying to stay afloat at a time when more than 90% of parents have not paid the fees.
Aarif said, “We have around 350 students at my Small Wonder School in Ghat Gate. On an average, we get Rs 12,000 per student. After the outbreak, we have not received fees making it difficult for us to pay fees to our teachers. I have started to look for alternatives to make a living or else I won’t be able to sustain.”
There are more than 30,000 small private schools in Rajasthan, many of them are being run on no profit-no loss model. According to school authorities, most of these institutes received the last fees in March before the virus struck.
In April, the state government announced that all school fees will be deferred for three months. Two days ago, the government announced that fees have been further deferred until schools reopen.
Seema Bharadhwaj, director of Behror-based Sristy Blooming Buds Public School, said the decision of the government had put a dent on their survival. “The moment the government deferred fees further, a parent who is a government teacher and capable of giving fees messaged me ‘Le Mathe Main Maar’. I never expected this kind of behaviour from our parents. Our building is on rent Rs 40,000 per month and my bank balance is in the negative. Bank officials can seize my vehicle any time as I haven’t paid instalments. The government should not be one sided while making decisions and consider the situation of everyone,” said Bharadhwaj.
Most schools have either not been able to pay teachers or have to laid off many staff. A private teacher in Jobner, Priya Sharma (a single mother), who was earning Rs 7,000 per month is surviving without salary and said if she wasn’t living with her parents, she would have to work at NREGA site for earning.
Many schools have complained that with fees being deferred for around six months, it would now become even more difficult to get the whole amount in one go. Most of the low-cost schools are ready to give some relief in fees, but parents who are even capable of paying have refused.