Dimapur, July 11 (EMN): All Nagaland Private Schools’ Association (ANPSA), Dimapur unit has admonished the criticisms against private schools in Nagaland with regard to fees and concessions during the current pandemic, stating that it has ‘dampened the morale and spirit’ of good private schools in the state.
In a statement on Sunday, President of ANSPA, Dimapur unit Dr. Andrew Ahoto shared that managements of private schools pay ‘reasonable salaries’ to its teachers compared to the government school teachers.
“Regardless of the occurring criticisms the truth remains that they are surviving not because of the fees alone, but due to the fact that the proprietors or mission-aided societies either have supplementary businesses, ventures, missionary funds and various other assistances which aids in the development of the private schools. Some of the private schools have been forced to shut down while many are on the verge of being closed because of no alternative source to keep the schools up and running,” read the statement.
ANSPA suggested that the Central government formulate a policy whereby the state government start receiving educational funds and distributing the same according to performances of each schools, regardless of private or governmental rather than confining funds only to government schools.
It added that the Nagaland government should come up with a plan where public funds are used more judiciously.
“Instead of pouring all the public money in government schools which are non-productive, it should rather provide grants in aid to all private schools like paying off at least 50% of the schools fees whereby reducing the burden of the parents/guardians at large. It is worth mentioning that in other States huge percentage of private schools’ teacher’s salaries are born by their respective state government. Why not in Nagaland?,” it read.
Furthermore, it said that ANPSA was an organisation made of different private schools run individually or by various organisation with a set of their own governing rules and regulations, ‘as such no one individual or a single institution can dictate the other to give out concession on the will of the organisation, other than requesting’.
“We as an organisation are here for one another to help and supplement rather than to draft decrees and accords. Besides, it is not that the schools on their own stand are not doing anything to help improve the effected conditions of the parents. In fact, there are many private schools that are actually making various cuts in schools fees and monthly instalments in order to help the parents as well as the students. In this regard, it is essential to take note of the fact that many private schools in Nagaland offer unsolicited fee-concessions and special benefits and scholarships to many deserving students and students from marginalised families, not forgetting the benefits that go into educating the wards of the school staff members, in terms of 50% or even 100% concessions in fees.
“To make matters worse, private schools suffer from non-payment of fees by many defaulting parents in some cases even amounting up to couple of years. Again, the private schools have different fee structures depending on the kinds of facilities and faculty provided. Therefore, critics must know fully-well that it is at the sheer discretion of an individual to choose any school according to one’s educational needs and a polished up-bringing. Thus, it is pertinent that those who blindly criticize the private schools should look into facts and make a thorough analysis before making wild assumptions or accusations,” read the statement.
ANSPA also shared that the performance of the private schools in board examinations each year have ‘always proven better in almost all area and this is made possible due to the dedicated efforts of the private schools’.
“Sadly, though the contribution of private schools has been immense in development of education sector in Nagaland and has also brought Nagaland in the map of education in India and in the International sphere, and also the Private Schools which is catering to approximate 75% or more of students in the state, is always side-lined,” it said.
Furthermore, it said that price hike of various commodities and fuels was one of the ‘biggest crisis’ in the state.
“This hike in price in all the essential commodities is draining our hard-earned money especially when the public are at their most vulnerable stage. We as consumer and responsible citizens should come together to raise our voices against this unfair price rise which is affecting the condition of all our day to day lives,” it added.