Teachers stage protest over order to defer fees

JAIPUR:

Private school teachers

from Jaipur staged a protest against the government’s decision of deferring school fees. Hundreds of teachers from various private schools of the city gathered at Central Park and walked till Statue Circle holding placards and banners against the government’s decision. This is for the first time that private school teachers have taken to streets against a

government

decision. Teachers said that deferring school fees has increased problems for them as ever since

lockdown

, they are already working on half salaries.

Anita Kanwar (name changed), one of the school teachers said, “When parents won’t pay fees how will the schools operate. Schools are financially broke and most of us are working on half salaries. Many schools, especially low-cost schools do not have budget to pay salaries or the rent at all. Teachers are suffering because of this decision.”

Rajasthan government deferred school fees in April at the time of first lockdown for three months i.e. till June. After continuous protests by parents to waive off school fees, especially of the lockdown period, a few days back, government again deferred school fees until schools are re-opened in Rajasthan. Private schools’ administration and teachers said that this has hit the schools really hard who are already suffering from fund crunch.

“We understand some parents may be facing financial crisis but those who are capable should be made to pay school fees. Government must not decide only looking at parents’ perspective, but should take into account other views as well. Since lockdown, teachers are taking online classes continuously. There are teachers who are not well-versed with technology but we still learned new skills for welfare of children. Government must take decision thinking about us as we have to pay our bills as well,” said Mahendra Kumar (name changed), a school teacher.