MARDAN: The Private Schools Management Association (PSMA) has rejected the government decision to keep the schools shut till July 15 and termed it an anti-education decision.

The Association office bearers have called upon the government to allow reopening of all the schools from June 01 under standard operating procedures (SOPs). They said educational institutions must be given a special package and their taxes must be waived off for at least three years.

The PSMA acting president Taj Malook, senior vice president Syed Nadeem Shah and deputy general secretary Iftikhar Khan said while addressing a press conference in Mardan that the government must pay the tuition fee of students till the schools are closed. They said the private schools need the tuition fee to pay salaries to teachers, non-teaching staff, building rent, utility bills and meet other expenditure. They said payment of tuition fee by the government will also reduce burden on parents whose source of income has been affected due to coronavirus lockdown.

The Association office holders said private educational institutions are on ventilator after coronavirus lockdown. They said about 6,000 employees of private schools in Mardan are facing a very difficult situation after the lockdown. They said the government has given a package of billions of rupees for construction sector, but nothing has been given to education sector.

The Association office bearers expressed grave concerns over cancellation of board exams and made it clear that they would not accept composite exam or change in the paper pattern. They said the government should form a comprehensive strategy to bring the students out of tension created due to cancellation of the exams.

The PSMA members demanded the government to ask the owners of school buildings not to tease the private schools managers for payment of rent during the lockdown situation. They said they will be compelled to permanently close their schools if these were not opened by June 01.

On the other hand, the teachers of private schools said they haven’t received salaries since the schools are closed due to coronavirus lockdown. They said the schools are receiving fee regularly from parents, but not paying salaries to teachers. They have appealed to the government to take notice of the matter.