Due to non-payment of fees during this pandemic, Karnataka private schools are facing a financial crunch. Many private schools in the state are on the verge of shutting down. Shashi Kumar, President Pvt Schools Association, stated that over 60 percent of parents with their children in budget schools have not paid fees.
The government has not extended any support in this regard. Total of around 18,000 schools out of 20,000 private schools in the state are budget schools that depend on monthly fees, said Shashi Kumar. With no payment of fees, these schools are unable to continue with their classes and also pay the minimum salary of their teachers. The President stated that, “Teachers are doing their best for online classes but we’re unable to pay them minimum salary.”
Karnataka schools have been closed down since March 2020 due to the pandemic followed by the lockdown. The state government has decided to not reopen schools till December 31, 2020. Schools would reopen after reviewing the situation in the last week of December on the subsequent reopening dates for schools.
Keeping the pandemic and the increasing number of cases under consideration, many states have also extended school closing dates till December 31 .