Page 38 - EducationWorld October 2020

Cover Story

DEAR PRIME MINISTER

WHY NO PANDEMIC PACKAGE

FOR EDUCATION?

The mega Rs.20.97 lakh crore Covid-19 economic aid package
announced by prime minister Narendra Modi on May 12,
provided tax breaks for small businesses, incentives for domestic
manufacturing and free foodgrains for the poor. However, it totally
ignored the pandemic-battered education sector

Summiya Yasmeen

T HE RAGING COVID-19 PANDEMIC has confronted with the prospect of bankruptcy, as unpaid tu-

ition dues have accumulated during the past two quarters
pushed Indian education into a state
following confusing and contradictory fee deferment direc-
of chaos. Closed since early March to
check the spread of the deadly Corona-
tives passed by several state governments during the lock-
virus which has claimed 108,000 lives
down, even as these directives mandate schools to continue
and infected 7 million people across
the country (October 10), India’s 1.4
A recent report of the Hyderabad-based Cerestra Ven-
million anganwadis (government run paying teachers’ salaries and provide online education.
tures estimates that over 1,000 private schools are up for
child nutrition and early childhood education centres), sale countrywide with managements having suffered mas-
estimated 60,000 private pre-primaries, 1.5 million K-12 sive revenue loss. Moreover, according to the Delhi-based
schools, 41,901 colleges and 1,028 universities are ex- National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA), which has a
periencing huge disruption in education delivery. In the membership of 60,000 budget private schools (BPS) coun-
country’s 1.2 million state government schools, learning trywide, “hundreds” of BPS have already shut down across
has all but stopped, with a few states such as Kerala and the country. Likewise the Telangana Recognised Schools
Delhi broadcasting token classes over television and radio. Management Association estimates that 2,000 BPS have
Moreover, with 214 million children enrolled in anganwa- closed statewide as on September 24.
dis and government primary schools deprived of nutrition In light of this unprecedented distress and turmoil in In-
and mid-day meals for six months, child malnutrition has dian education, child rights activists, K-12 education lead-
scaled new heights. ers, private school managements and teachers associations
The country’s 450,000 private schools, especially budget have been petitioning — and continue to petition — the
private schools, are also in deep trouble with thousands Central and state governments to urgently provide bridge

38 EDUCATIONWORLD OCTOBER 2020