IN the middle of the pandemic, all segments of society have been badly affected, and teachers in private schools are no exception. In fact, they are the ones putting up with the worst as many of them have not received salaries since March, and, in some cases, even February. Still others have only received partial salaries. They are staring at the black hole of financial ruination.

It is a practice of the management of a majority of private schools to pay their staff, particularly teachers, after they collect fees from students. In the aftermath of the lockdown, many parents — facing economic difficulties themselves — have not paid their children’s fees, and their inability to pay is understandable.

What is neither acceptable nor condonable under any circumstances is the private school management’s heartless attitude towards their staff. They have the funds to pay rent, utilities and other expenses, like non-teaching staff’s emoluments. However, when it comes to paying teachers’ salaries, strangely the school managements claim to have no money.

The reason for this is that teachers in all private schools live under the shadow of a cartel formed by the employers. The unsaid rule is that teachers are on the lowest rung in the payment schedule of the employers. The most that a teacher can do is to resign and join another school. In this case the teacher will forfeit dues and outstanding salaries. To add to their woes, the same principle will apply to the teacher in their new place of employment.

As an educationist suffering this ignominy for years, I appeal to the federal and provincial governments to introduce legislation to protect private schools teachers and uphold their rights. After all, what is at stake is the future of the country.

Faridullah
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2020