Education in Nagaland in ‘dire situation’: ANPSA

Dimapur, July 14 (MExN): Three days after stating that its members’ schools are facing various challenges due to COVID-19, the ANPSA submitted a representation to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio highlighting the ‘dire situation’ of education due to the pandemic and possible corrective measures, including reopening of schools. 

Sharing the content of the representation via a press release here, the All Nagaland Private Schools' Association (ANPSA), among others, expressed concern over the over financial constraints of the private schools due to non-payment of fees.

In spite of huge concessions being given to needy students, owing to non-payment of fees, many schools have incurred heavy debts and others are not able to cope with the required infrastructural developments in the school, it informed.

More than 50% of students have not paid fees in many schools and many have left in the past academic year without paying any fees, the Association maintained. The  situation, it said, is putting private schools in a ‘precarious’ financial status as they are totally dependent on school fees.

It is not possible to get funding from other sources such as bank loans, etc., and private unaided schools have to fend for themselves without any outside support or any help from the State Government, it added. 

On uniform fee waiver

Meanwhile, the ANPSA highlighted that during the lockdown, additional expenses are being incurred by private schools on account of “providing internet data, multiple wi-fi facilities and equipment to teachers, providing transportation to teachers and purchase and installation of various materials related to the COVID-19 SOPs.”

As most schools are small with limited facilities “very low” fees compared to other States, the savings on unutilised facilities are far offset by the discounts which are already being given to deserving parents by many schools, and also by non payment of fees, it said. 

Besides the facilities, expenditure and financial liabilities differ from school to school and thus, a uniform fee waiver cannot be advocated, the Association stated. 

“A uniform fee waiver is an injustice to society as a large number of people who have lost their jobs and income during the pandemic would be treated on par with those who receive their full pay during the pandemic,” it justified. 

“Most of the students in private schools are children of government servants who are being fully paid even during the pandemic,” ANPSA underscored. 

“If uniform fee waivers are imposed, the question of many schools surviving till the end of the year will be doubtful,” it added. 

It further questioned “Advisory” by the State Government on July 14, 2021 which “advised private schools not to withhold results of students even without payment of fees.” 

“Can the demand for declaration of result of those who can afford to pay and yet refuse to do it be justified?” ANSPA posed. 

It further wondered whether schools can “even survive till the results are declared without payment of fees by students” and asked what the government or students would do if schools are pushed to such an extent. 

Further noting that many schools may have to close down, properties sold or facilities used for other purposes due to financial constraints if the pandemic continues to next year, the Association asked whether society is willing to risk the future of students by creating such a situation.

While understanding the sentiments of parents and organisations demanding waiver of fees, the private schools are the worst affected by the pandemic, it noted.

“When the government and society depend very much on the private schools for education in Nagaland and teachers and school management are asked to work as frontline workers without any appreciation from the government or the public but rather their very existence is being threatened,” it said. 

It is a sad state of affairs that schools and educators are made to suffer more and criticised, it added. 

Notwithstanding the situation, the ANPSA, however, encouraged all private schools to be compassionate and further pointed out that the schools have been “very understanding and considerate to students since the outbreak of the pandemic to provide learning materials and facilitate their appearing examinations, in spite of a huge backlog of fees.” 

In this regard, the Association said that schools will continue to use their discretion to alleviate the sufferings of the economically poor by giving concessions within their capacity.

Reopening of schools 

Meanwhile, the Association in its representation urged the government of Nagaland to reopen schools in a phased manner starting with classes 8, 10 and 12. 

Underscoring the importance of resuming those classes, it said that they have to be prepared for the Board Exams and that the online classes have not been effective owing to the unstable network connectivity, lack of gadgets among the students, inability of some parents to help their children, difficulty in effective assessment of students and so on.

There is an age appropriate time for learning. Now we are facing almost two years of academic loss that may be irrecoverable and have serious long term negative effects so every effort should be made to open schools as soon as possible, it stated.

ANPSA further urged the State government ‘once again’ to introduce Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to help needy parents who have been affected by the pandemic for the education of their children. 

“Education of children is just as important as any other area where DBT is being given to citizens of the State,” it said. 

“We appeal to the government and society to understand that Education is an investment rather than expenditure, added the representation appended by ANSPA President Nini Sekhose, Vice President; ANPSA & CEDOK Rep., Rev Fr Jacob Charalel; and General Secretary, PJ Nathan.