Around 500 schools will not reopen after the virus is over, ASPCA

The authorities have expressed fears that approximately 500 low-fee private schools across Sindh will not reopen after the virus is over. Out of 500 low fee private schools, 300 schools are from Karachi.

According to All Private Schools Management Association (APSMA) and All Sindh Private Schools & Colleges Association (ASPSCA) report issues, most of these schools are run in underprivileged areas.

The owners and administrators of hundreds of other local schools have contacted the financial assistance organizations. Still, they are in no place to support them and save the future of thousands of children.

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Associations also reported that permanent school shutdowns would increase the number of out-of-school children if no meaningful action is taken by the authorities involved.

ASPCA Chairman Haider Ali said: We only offer legal assistance and professional advice as an organization and encourage Member Schools to strengthen their teaching and learning activities.

He said his group collected data from schools whose owners were unable to operate their schools after the second wave of Covid-19 suspended educational activities.

However, he pointed out that closed institutions' data has not been finalized by his organization yet. "It requires time to complete such extensive work."

Low-fee private schools have to close for good because they have to pay rent, wages, electricity bills, and taxes out of the collected payments, APSMA Sindh Chairman Syed Tariq Shah said.

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However, Shah pointed out that parents have been refusing to pay the fees for the last nine or so months, though none of the officials have taken these issues seriously.

School owners have also been registering dropouts regularly, the prevalence of which has been reported to be between 20% and 25% of enrolled students, he added, warning that the desperate situation would continue to raise the number of out-of-school children in Pakistan.

He then quoted UNICEF figures that place Pakistan second among countries where children do not get an education.