DATE : 12 JUNE 2020
With people’s income drying up amid the Covid-19 pandemic, around 6,000 students who had been studying at private schools have now transferred to government schools for the 2020-21 academic session in Patiala. Around 5,000 students transferred to government establishments after April 1 say education department officials.
An official at the education department requesting anonymity said, “Diminished income, high fee and private schools’ orders seeking fee during lockdown are the main reason behind this trend.”
As per district education department records, 6,178 students from private schools have enrolled in government schools for the upcoming academic session.
Of the 6,178 students, 1,587 students were admitted to pre-primary classes; 1,389 to Class 1; 1,002 to Class 2; 850 to Class 3; 698 to Class 4; and 652 to Class 5
‘LOWER-MIDDLE CLASS WORST AFFECTED’
Patiala-based mathematics teacher Gagandeep Singh says, “The lower middle class has been one of the worst affected sections. People’s incomes have reduced, some of them have been laid off, some have faced salary cuts while others are out of work.”
“Meanwhile, private schools have been asking parents to deposit school fee, which has compelled parents to shift their children to government schools. Besides, government schools’ infrastructure has also improved over the last few years,” he said.
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