Aided private schools face funds crunch

Mumbai: The government-aided private schools in the city are going through a financial crisis since 10 years as the allocation of funds by the government for public education has been reduced. Sources at a school stated that the government has cut the funding by half, which is originally eight per cent. These grants given by the government is used to pay the salaries of the teaching and non-teaching staff. Along with this, the state has also reduced the non-salary grants that are used to maintain the infrastructure and pay the electricity bill of the school building.

A Principal of a private-aided school said, “Every year the government is supposed to pay grants to the school, which is rarely happening. We either get half the grants or nothing at all which affects our day to day expenses in the school”. According to him, this has been happening in both public education sector and private sector. “Though the new government claims to have a growth in the economy, it has no reflection on the public education sector,” he said.

Talking about the non-salary grants, another Principal said that the government has stopped it 10 to 15 years ago. “Though non-salary grant is a small amount but it is important as with these we pay our school’s electricity bills, telephone bills and building repair expenses,” he said. Adding to this, these schools were started by the government for a no profit- no loss section and hence they are not supposed to charge anything from the students. Majority aided schools charge less than Rs 50/month. “We are not given grants and nor are we suppose to increase the school fees. Then how are we supposed to maintain school with teachers and quality education,” asked Principal of a school based in Colaba.