Confused parents and guardians

Confused parents and guardians

All the government and private colleges and schools are closed for the last three and half months due to corona virus threat and not so sure how long they will remain closed. Until now, there is no government's clearly defined policy or directives regarding the management and operation of these institutions. As a result, most of the private colleges and schools  have started running online classes for their students in their own  ways. There are both pros and cons about the online classes. 

The Kathmandu Post has wonderfully explained about the messy situation in its today’s (June 24/2020) editorial.

The Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation Nepal (PABSON) and the National Private and Boarding Schools’ Association Nepal (N-PABSAN) on Sunday issued a joint statement asking guardians to pay the tuition fees of their wards for Chaitra (March/April) and thereafter.The new fad of online learning that schools have followed so religiously, it is getting clearer by the day, is an excuse for them to keep collecting fees even as they are closed. 

This contravenes the directives from the Education and Health Committee of Parliament and the government that schools can’t collect fees for the months when they are closed. Some schools have also reportedly asked guardians to visit their premises to get their wards admitted for the new academic year. Apart from flouting the government’s directive to remain closed, the schools pose a grave threat to the security of the guardians, the students and the community as Covid-19 transmission cases continue to rise. If they can’t take responsibility for a possible mass transmission, they must keep their shops shut for the time being. Once the government asks them to reopen, it will be the one taking responsibility for any untoward situation. 

A balancing act

Private schools can’t collect fees when they're closed. They can’t go bankrupt either.

https://tkpo.st/37T40uT