JAIPUR: Six months back, play schools and day cares in the city were a flourishing business with many teachers and support staff. With the outbreak of the pandemic, more than 30 pre-schools and day care centres have been forced to shut.
Bachpan Play School had three branches in Jaipur out of which two have been shut as it has become difficult for the owners to pay the rent without any source of income.
Simpal Vyas, director of Bachpan Play School said, “We had more than 200 students but with the lockdown, our income has become nil. Paying around Rs 2 lakh of rent for three properties wasn’t feasible. We are planning to start some other business till the preschools are open again.”
Most of these schools have started taking online classes but it is a challenge to make children up to six years of age to sit in front of a laptop.
Rajesh Mehta, director of Little Kingdom School said, “Only a few students had enrolled for online classes. It is difficult to manage small kids with online classes. We have more than 350 students but only 20% parents have paid fees. We are in a crisis as we are paying most of the expenses from our pocket.”
According to pre-school authorities, parents have made it clear to them that they will send their children to school only after a vaccine is available in the market.
“Parents are apprehensive about sending students in class IX to XII to school for consultation. It is definite that this year, schools will not be opened and pre-schools will be the last ones to be opened. More than 30 pre-schools have closed down in the city and people are opting for alternative career options,” said a play school and day care owner.
Vivek Swami, owner of Smiling Star Day Care said that they had three branches, all of which they had to shut. “We are hopeful that things will be better. The times are tough as most people are still working from home and day cares are not needed. People who have started going to office are scared to leave their children in a day care due to the rising number of cases,” said Swami.