65% Chandigarh private schools refuse to pay salaries for April

CHANDIGARH:Of 77 private schools in Chandigarh, at least 50 schools have said they will not be paying salaries to employees for April. The Independent Schools Association (ISA), a body of private schools in Chandigarh, said that if the UT education department doesn’t allow schools to collect fee soon, salaries of teachers and Class 4 employees wont be paid.

ISA chairman HS Mamik told HT that ISA will be approaching Punjab and Haryana high court next week if no respite is given to schools by the department.

“Of all member schools, about seven schools will be able to pay salaries while the rest do not have sufficient funds,” he said.

“In my school , the budget for salaries is around ₹1 crore a month. Other member schools have to pay a minimum of 50-60 lakh as salary, he said. “How will they pay it if they don’t get fee from students? It is from the fees that employees get salaries and the financial obligation is met,” he said.

The education department had deferred payment of tuition fee for the 2020-21 session in government and private schools owing to lockdown, saying a decision would be taken when curbs lifted.

The education department had asked all private unaided schools to display their balance sheet online by March 30. However, none of the schools complied with the directions.

Chandigarh Parents’ Association president Nitin Goyal said, “Decisions for fees should be taken according to balance sheets of schools. Parents should not be burdened with the fat salaries of the top management and trustees as they are already very well-off and secured financially.”

UT director of school education Rubinderjit Singh Brar said, “The department is reconsidering the fee collection directive. A call in this regard will be taken by senior authorities on Monday.”