Bisma Bhat
Srinagar, May 13: Saima Wani (name changed), a private school teacher has not able to meet the monthly expenses of her family for the last three months.
The only breadwinner in her family, she had joined a reputed private school in February after her father’s retirement. However, since the lockdown, she has not been paid.
“Last these months have been testing time for my family. I am the only one in the family who is earning. My father’s salary has been reduced to half after retirement. I was supposed to support my father. But for the last three months I have not received my salary though we are regularly teaching kids online,” said Saima.
Another teacher at a private school in Kupwara said he too wasn’t paid any salary since March and didn’t have any other means of livelihood.
“I was paid Rs 9000 per month but since March we have been working without salaries. My father used to work as a street vendor in Batamaloo but first Article 370 shutdown and now Covid lockdown has left him without work for months now,” the teacher said.
The Kupwara teacher had to leave an earlier job at a Srinagar school for similar reasons.
“I used to teach English to higher classes in a Srinagar school but I left it after August last year when we weren’t paid any salaries for months. Then (in Kupwara) I joined this school hoping that things will be better, but I have been dissappointed here too,” he added.
His former colleague in the Srinagar school confirmed that they still hadn’t received their salaries.
“Believe me we are working equal if not more even while being at home. We have online classes, this and that meeting without any specific timing. I mean sometimes I start my day at 9 am and end at 9pm,” he said.
Another private school teacher wishing anonymity said he had to borrow money to meet his expenses. “Private school teachers have no job security. We are overburdened with work but are paid peanuts. To make things worse, we are not paid on time. We too have a family to feed,” he said.
These are not isolated cases. Thousands of teachers are working hard but they have not been paid salaries for months now.
Private School Association, President, G N Var admitted that the teachers and non-teaching staff have not been paid.
“We are well aware of the situation. Teachers need not worry. We urge parents to pay the fee so that teachers are also paid. For underprivileged children who have no source of income, the association will help them in the best possible way,” Var said.
Principal Secretary to government education department Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon said private schools need to pay salaries because their teachers are working hard.
“Parents have to pay tuition fees so that teachers will also get their salaries. However, annual charges and other fees should not be charged from the children,” he said.
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I am working in reputed school in the vicinity of Narbal.our school collected fees from the parents from Aug2019. But didn’t paid a single penny to the teachers,not only this teaches are being looted on the name of provident fund,wherein amount is being deducted from salary of teachers but is not submitted anywhere,whenever teachers tried to raise their voice against it,they were threatened that they wl be thrown out from the service.
Very true… My friends who are working in valleys renowned private schools were saying same they are without salary since December ’19…
It is unfortunate here that parents don’t understand and at the same time school administration don’t pay to these teachers. We must as parent shot submit school fee so that teachers get their salary
I am also a teacher April month half salary we got but from May month onward we are not going to get salary till school starts. I am a widow leaving in rented house with my son who is also an sports teacher working in an other school he has also not got salary.people like us how will we survive. Will the government come forward to help people like us.
Even I’m also working as a teacher in one of the reputed school and we are also not paid since March although it’s been 1.5 months we have been teaching students online. We prepare worksheet, prepare slides, prepare handwritten question with answers. Also we conduct online test. But we haven’t got any payment since March ( not even half salary) as if we don’t have any family or expenditure. This is the worst thing private school teachers are facing.
Same happening in delhi .
Well i am facing same problem like all private school teachers but my school owner says sewa karo salary ki ichacha nahi karo sab ramji dekhe ge.keep on working without salary and he also treat if some complain about him or leave job.and given salary since 5 months .
Government should take strict action on school that why they are not giving the salary of school. Government should when school get profit did they give extra money to there teacher .???. So why there is an delay in giving the salary of teachers. Media should also help in this matter