JKPSA urges Govt to reopen schools on rotational basis

JKPSA leaders during a meeting cum press conference on Monday.
JKPSA leaders during a meeting cum press conference on Monday.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 26: J&K Private Schools Association (JKPSA) has appealed the Government to evolve a strategy of reopening the schools in Jammu and Kashmir on rotational basis.
The issue was discussed threadbare in a meeting of private schools of winter zone of district Reasi, which was organized by Ashwani Khajuria (district president) along with the designated members of private schools of district Reasi to discuss their problems.
Members from different winter zones viz Chasana, Arnas, Pouni, Mahore participated in the meeting and highlighted their problems which included financial deficit due to the non-collection of monthly fee, delay in disbursing the regular monthly salary to their employees even at the closure of academic session 2019-20 of winter zone etc.
While speaking, members from far flung areas said that it has become worrisome for them to run a private school due to their low budget. “The teachers which were engaged to continue the community classes and online classes as per the guidelines issued by the Government in the wake of COVID -19 are now claiming their wages and threatening to lodge complaint against the school authorities for the delay in their salaries,” they added.
They said that some schools might have paid the wages to their employees out of their reserve and collection of fee after the announcement of unlock but most of the schools till date have not paid even a single penny because most of the parents are reluctant to pay monthly fee as per circular number 01 Education of 2020 dated 14-05-2020.
Keeping all pros and cons in consideration, Ajay Gupta, general secretary of JKPSA (special invitee on the occasion) on behalf of members appealed to the Government to generate a strategy of reopening the schools in Jammu and Kashmir on the rotational basis as done incase of coaching centers/tutorials for the larger interest of the community.