General Secretary Shashi Kumar has written a letter to Vijaya Basker IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka; Suresh Kumar S, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education; Principal Secretary of Education Department and the Commissioner for Public Instructions stating where private unaided schools stands and suggestions regarding the payment of salary to teachers and staff with respect to present the COVID-19 crisis.

In the letter he wrote:

With respect to above subject we bring to your kind notice that the education department issuing circular dated 30-03-20 Sa.ha.ni.sha.shi.Aa sha/ka va. Ku.ja.su / 32544/e.v.2020 is in bad light.

In such situation the circular has caused damages in whole, that parent’s need not pay fee till everything with COVID-19 comes to control, it should be differed, mentioning to those who are with the category of daily wages parents should not be forced.

Considering below issues:

· Government insist private unaided schools to pay salary to all employees.

· Most budget schools have not received their fee from many students for the ensuing year, more than 20-25 % pending (several lakhs pending)

· 25% RTE reimbursement from education department is also not made for last year, till date.

We are in the opinion that:

1. The Private Unaided Schools should be allowed to collect arrears fee from those who have not paid for several months and are due till date.

2. The parents who are salaried from all sectors are been receiving salary even during crisis or lock down as per state government directions.

3. The parents who are affordable to pay their children’s school fee should be advised to do so keeping the best interest of the education institution teaching & non-teaching staff, who has the equal rights to lead the normal life, get their salary during such crises, and government should treat with dignity under its responsibility.

Our suggestions are:

1. Schools should not insist compulsory payment by providing cut of date and shall give opportunity till May 5th for Arrears to be paid.

2. Next year maintenance/admissions/fee/services, if parents are affordable, such parents can be allowed to pay by online transactions only. Parents of these category should be given opportunity till June 5th, without cut off dates.

3. No schools should say parents to walk in to make payments.

4. Schools can only request stating situation and need of financial support to meet salaries and other expenditure, no compulsion to be made.

5. Schools should consider the daily wage workers, example: auto wala, taxi wala, construction workers, street venders, shops and other day to day business community, to show sympathy and provide time for payment understanding the crisis situations under humanitarian grounds.

6. Any schools using unethical practices / force parents by fixing time bound with in the crisis period for payments shall be brought to the notice of BEO-DDPI of the concerned block, such schools to be held under offence.

Hence we request once again, your good office to consider our situation, providing natural unbiased justice,

We also time and again request education department to release the RTE reimbursement during this crisis as most school will be able to pay their salary to staff.

We bring to your notice that we yourself plead with our situation to our parents who will understands and believe that most support without regrets,

We request same from your office to speak the situation to the general public who shall understand the need of the hour by budget schools across.