Art Of Teaching

The COVID-19 epidemic in India has not only put the lives of the masses at risk but has adversely impacted the lives of thousands of school staff. The lockdown has positioned the very existence of the staff be it teachers or nonteaching staff under question. The reason being cited is nonpayment of fees by parents, citing the lockdown and the financial crisis as the main problem.

Private Schools Are Often Branded As Profit-Making Machines–

Though they are termed as nonprofit organizations, it is true that they have amassed a lot of wealth in the previous years by not paying staff as per rules and not providing amenities as per budget allocation.

So many years nobody raised their voice against these flouting of rules but now at least during COVID times the Management of these private schools should behave in a more humane manner.

Please remember that fees are collected on many fronts in private schools like Tuition Fees, Term fees, and other Activity fees for computers, buses, etc. Also, most of the private schools have amassed wealth based on donations during admissions.

It is therefore expected that these schools should not only bring down students’ fees to fifty percent but must also not fire any teachers or other staff members and pay salaries as prescribed. Even from the Tuition fees, 80 percent is for salaries of staff and 20 percent for administrative expenses as per rules.

Desire Of The Government-

The government desires that the teachers in the country, especially in the private schools who do not get benefits of Pay commissions should be helped to prevail over the pandemic effects. The Prime Minister has appealed to the people of the country who are in the power seat to continue paying the wages as the expenses for the common man is not going to decrease, especially for basics. If you interpret the message circumspectly, it is mostly the private employers who should hold fast to this appeal and allow take-home pay and salaries as before.

Also the staff is being made to work from home on online medium. Thus they are facing pay cuts at the same time they are spending money on internet services from their pockets.

Importance Of Teachers – Forgotten?

Unfortunately in this part of world teachers are regarded as measly labourers and their privileges are being subjugated. The so-called educational institutions which give us lessons of individual values and respect are the ones exploiting the teaching class of our society in the name of COVID and otherwise.

In Maharashtra, the instruction to pay salary for the lockdown stage has been requested in the court by the employees. It’s going to be a long-strained case and it is difficult to take a chance on the outcome. But the permanent answer can arrive only through legitimate and just talks between the employers and employees.

It may not be probable to generate a win-win situation, but at least with sympathetic understanding, the loss due to the lockdown can be shared to ease the load on each party be it Parent, School Staff, or Management for that matter. In the present conditions, none of the parties can afford a time-consuming, expensive lawful fight but a well-negotiated settlement can ensure furthering relationships between the parties.

Private Schools- Not Priority Of Government

Evidently, providing respite to private school teachers is not high on the list of government priorities but by ignoring this sector the government is leaving millions of private school teachers at the mercy of erratic conditions and is also ignoring the fact that neglecting these teachers will only hurt the country’s future.

This pandemic has already made it obvious that our mislaid priorities and incapability to increase our healthcare sector has put the lives of doctors, health care staff, and citizens at great risk.

The schooling sector, especially private institutions has also long been overlooked by consecutive governments. This is the reason why many teachers today are facing a cruel dilemma. The troubles of the private schools and their staff members must be heard and resolved by the private managements but for that active pressure is needed from the Government.

If the state fails to do so then in the coming months not only will teachers become negative and depressed but also demoralized? This will lead to millions of students facing the risk of receiving quality education as lack of motivation will kill the efficiency of staff at large.

This is the time when the Management can show the staff how much they value them by paying their salaries in full and the parents can show how much they value their ward’s school and the teachers by at least paying the tuition fees to the full and promptly.

An Appeal To All-

In the larger interests of humanity and in order to help renew the economy quickly, it is very much vital to re-establish normalcy by avoiding unnecessary and commonly harming actions at this point in time.

Think Of The Staff For Once And Don’t Force Them For Confrontation In These COVID Times. They Are Your Assets, So Keep Them Safe. These Trying Times Will Go, But Your Humane Actions Will Always Be Remembered.