Letter To Editor | Don’t Pay Peanuts for Private School Teachers

TEACHERS in privately owned and managed schools are being exploited on a regular basis. The teachers employed in such schools are paid a fraction of their authorised salaries and are made to work endlessly for hours.

Such malpractice is seen to affect the performance of the teachers in the classroom as well. The school trust pays these teachers much less than the amount they were promised, leading to resignations and constant changes in the faculty. This has affected students’ performance and led to an atmosphere of uncertainty in the schools which is detrimental to the cause of education.

As a nation that prides itself on respecting its teachers, it must be understood that we cannot build a future for our students if we do not give due credit to our teachers. The government should ensure that such schools pay salaries as per the government’s fixed pay scales. Payments should be made through banks and the government agencies should monitor the salary perks etc. The authorities must take up this matter in order to investigate the issue further and mobilise the cause towards calling for a complete overhaul in the education system where needed. Teachers are the builders of the nation, it is a shame that the system fails to provide them the adequate reward they deserve.

Malika Hussain