Dimapur, July 11 (MExN): The All Nagaland Private Schools’ Association (ANPSA) on Sunday stated that there has been sharp decline of students in almost all private schools since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
“It must be seriously noted that since pandemic started, there has been a sharp decline of approximate 20% students and above in almost all private schools,” a statement issued by ANPSA President Dr Andrew Ahoto informed. The Association also opined that private schools should receive ‘true patronage and recognition’ as they have put in many of their own resources and effort in bringing about educational benefits to so many students from varied backgrounds
Highlighting the concerns of private schools in the State, ANPSA rued that despite the ‘selfless efforts’, private schools have been facing criticism from various quarters.
Even during the pandemic, private schools have been working beyond the call of duty to make sure that education does not fail, it stated. With the imposition of lockdown, almost all private schools had to take up new extraordinary challenges for creating conducive learning environment for the students and all mentors have been working selflessly, it added.
“But sadly there was hardly anyone to cheer for the private schools,” ANPSA rued.
On criticism over school fees
Taking note of criticism from various quarters about the fees collected by private schools, the Association reasoned, “…how will the managements of Private Schools pay reasonable salaries to the private teachers as compared to the government teachers.”
Regardless of the occurring criticisms, ANPSA stated that the private schools are surviving on not just the fees, but because the proprietors or mission-aided societies either have supplementary businesses, ventures, missionary funds and various other assistances which aids in their development.
“Some of the private schools have been forced to shut down while many are on the verge of being closed because of no alternative source to keep the schools up and running,” it also pointed out.
While sympathizing with the public, ANPSA also `reasoned that ANPSA is an organisation made of different private schools that run individually or by various organisations with a set of their own governing rules and regulations. As such, no one individual or a single institution can dictate the other to give out concession on the will of the organisation, it said.
Besides, it is not that the schools are not doing anything to help improve the conditions of the parents, it added. “In fact, there are many private schools that are actually making various cuts in schools fees and monthly instalments in order to help the parents as well as the students,” ANPSA said.
While offering ‘unsolicited’ fee-concessions, special benefits and scholarships to deserving students and those from marginalized families, many private schools in Nagaland also provide benefits for wards of the school staff members, ANPSA noted.
Challenges
Private schools suffer from non-payment of fees by many defaulting parents in some cases even amounting up to couple of years, the Association stated.
Private schools have different fee structures depending on the kinds of facilities and faculty provided. In this regard, it said that “critics must know fully-well that it is at the sheer discretion of an individual to choose any school according to one’s educational needs...” and appealed for a thorough analysis before ‘blindly criticizing’ private schools. It also stated that every private school has to pay their employees from even if schools are closed.
Alleging that some organisations are trying to get ‘cheap leverage’ by manipulating public emotions, ANPSA said that those organisations should first check the proper source funds provided by the centre along with its usage.
“Is it not wiser to know how central funds are being mismanaged and wasted on insignificant areas before going against private schools who are functioning without any aid or funds from the government?,” it questioned.
It also claimed that even though private schools have contributed immensely in development of education sector in Nagaland and also brought Nagaland in the map of education in India as well as in the international sphere, they are always sidelined. It called for the citizens and organisations in the State to recognize the efforts of the private schools in the betterment and development of the State.
“The narrow attitude and sheer negligence have surely dampened the morale and spirit of many credible and good private schools in our State,” it added.
ANPSA further opined that the Central government should make a policy whereby the State government starts receiving educational funds and distribute the same according to performances of each school, regardless of private or government, rather than confining funds only to government schools.
Instead of pouring all the public money in government schools, the State government should rather provide grants-in-aid to all private schools like paying off at least 50% of the schools fees, reducing the burden of the parents/guardians at large, it added.
Mentioning that in other States, huge percentage of private schools teachers’ salaries are borne by their respective State government, it queried why the same cannot be done in Nagaland.
It also stated that the price hike of various commodities and fuels is an existing ‘major crisis’ in need of undivided attention and urged all to raise their voice against the unfair price rise which is affecting the condition of day to day lives.
The ANPSA requested each private school to help deserving students in whatever way they can and appealed for everyone to help and grow in unity for the larger interest of the next generation.
