Pandemic drives teachers to take up farming

Spread over two-and-a-half acres, Shantiniketan Central School in Kadur taluk, Chikkamagaluru district, now resembles a farm.

The administration of the varsity and teachers have used the premises to develop marigold flowers, ‘avarekayi’(a kind of beans), brinjal, and chilli. It’s not the one college that has ‘adapted’ to the pandemic.

Many personal colleges in rural areas that closed their doorways to college students eight months in the past owing to COVID-19 have transformed open areas into farms and unused school rooms into areas for workshops in an try to generate income. One college is even utilizing its campus to dry fish.

The pandemic has been harsh on teachers, lots of whom had been compelled to take up odd jobs due to wage cuts. But colleges, too, have been struggling to keep afloat.

Several personal college administration members informed The Puucho that that they had no possibility however to convert their house as that they had not been in a position to acquire college charges.

“We were unable to get any revenue this year. Our school has 410 students, but no parent paid the annual fees for the 2020-2021 academic year,” mentioned Dinesh Kumar G.D., chairman of Shantiniketan Central School.

The administration was in a position to pay their salaries until July by dipping into the varsity corpus.

However, the initiative to develop produce to meet bills was not as profitable as that they had hoped. Mr. Kumar mentioned that the latest rains had washed away their produce.

“We did not profit from cultivating vegetables or growing flowers. Only ₹3,800 is left in the school’s bank balance,” he added.

Several price range personal colleges, notably in rural areas, are unable to bear the recurring expenditure.

Lokesh Talikatte, State unit president, Recognised Unaided Private Schools’ Association, Karnataka, mentioned that the federal government had not launched any aid package deal for college managements or teachers who had been in monetary misery. “Some managements are now selling their schools and movable assets such as school buses,” he mentioned.

Ranganath, a administration member at Educare English Medium, Amadalli, Karwar, mentioned that he had been utilizing his college campus — unfold over 1.2 acres — to dry fish. “So far, only 50 out of 389 students have paid a portion of the school fees. While their annual fee is ₹8,100, some of the parents have paid fees ranging from ₹200 to ₹5,000. If we force parents to pay up, they may pull their children out of our school and enrol them in government schools,” he mentioned.

RTE Students and Parents’ Association chief secretary B.N. Yogananda mentioned that the State ought to reimburse colleges for college students admitted below the RTE quota in order that they might survive.

Fall in pupil energy

Another worrying pattern for personal colleges is the rising recognition of presidency colleges, particularly amongst households who can now not afford the charges.

Christopher Cheriyan, secretary of Emmanuel Mission School, Holalkere Rural in Chitradurga district, has transformed a portion of his college right into a workshop the place he does some welding work to earn extra revenue.

“As many as 60 of the 180 students in the primary school have taken transfer certificates. Their parents have enrolled them in government schools as they themselves have lost their jobs or are making do with lower salaries,” he added.