Double-edged announcement

January 24, 2021

The Covid-19 outbreak not only put lives at risk, but many businesses all over the country were also severely affected due to the lockdown and restrained mobility. Pakistan’s private schools were no exception

When demanding a sacrifice from the private sector, it is only fair that some concessions are offered in return.

On March 13, as an immediate result of the breakout of the Covid-19 pandemic in Pakistan, all educational institutions were closed until further notice. This included private institutions. This abrupt closure left private schools, like all other educational institutions in the country, hanging in uncertainty and extreme confusion.

As soon as the lockdown was announced, all academic activities were halted. However, private schools attempted to continue teaching via digital mediums such as Google classroom, and Zoom. The Covid-19 outbreak not only put lives at risk, but many businesses all over the country were also affected due to the lockdown and restrained mobility. Pakistan’s private schools were no exception.

After six months of gauging through the pandemic caused uncertainty, the Punjab government announced that schools were to be re-opened from September. In an official tweet the education minister announced “All Public & Private Schools of Punjab to open on following schedule classes 9-12 to start on Sept 15, classes 6-8 on Sept 22 and nursery to 5 on Sept 30. No Double Shift. Alternative Day Schedule to be followed by all Public & Private Schools.”

As a reaction, the All Pakistan Private Schools Federation (APPSF) announced that they were opposed to the decision and ‘rejected’ the plan to reopen schools in three phases. The decision of the government to reopen in several phases was in fact termed as an “anti-education step” by the APPSF. Kashif Mirza, president of the federation also said that private schools lacked the financial resources required to give the coronavirus tests to millions of teachers. He added that the government should instead set up a system of funding the implementation of standard operating procedures besides the testing of administration and staff members in order to ensure safety of all stakeholders involved.

The decision of the government to re-open in several phases was in fact termed as an “anti-education step” by the APPSF.

As a result of the phased reopening of educational institutions, private schools faced economic and logistical hardship. While the government suggested that classes be held three days a week, it disallowed double shifts. Most low-budget private schools do not have classrooms for all their students, which is why evening classes were a necessity to both continue with regular instruction and make up for the cost of the classrooms, teachers and overheads.

The Punjab government also announced a 20 percent fee reduction for students of all private schools. The private schools objected that their operational costs were not covered through taxpayers’ money. Utility bills, rent, administrative expenses, teacher and staff salaries, developmental work, repair/ maintenance of buildings, are only some of the expenses these enterprises bear. No contingency plan was offered to meet these expenses. Not only that, the government also barred the schools from firing any teachers or staff members during the pandemic. Even after the lockdown was lifted, compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued to the schools, “costs money.” The government directions made no provision for the expense.

When demanding a sacrifice from the private sector, it is only fair that some concessions are offered in return. Amnesties were announced for investors hiding black money, cleansing their finances in the chalice of Covid-19, but no such scheme was offered to the private schools. Not even a symbolic reduction in bills, utilities or taxes.

The reopening, post lockdown, has left the schools grappling with multiple problems. The challenges ahead are not only unprecedented, they are also over and above anyone’s academic commitment. Enforcing discipline on social distancing, wearing of masks, ensuring sanitization and then maintaining this throughout the course of a school day, is a herculean task. The restriction on the number of students allowed to sit per classroom has made new investment in infrastructure necessary. Also, more teachers are needed to teach the same children. All this has added to the private schools’ burden.


The writer is an academic, teacher, and manager affiliated with the private school sector in Faisalabad

Schools reopening: Double-edged announcement