Schools cannot sack teachers or hold their salaries: State education department

With reports of several schools sacking teachers or not paying them during the Covid-19 crisis doing the rounds, the state education department has now come up with

With reports of several schools sacking teachers or not paying them during the Covid-19 crisis doing the rounds, the state education department has now come up with a circular stating that action would be taken against schools which resort to such practices.

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“It has come to light that some schools run by private managements are not paying their employees including teachers and non-teaching staff citing school closure as a reason. This is not acceptable as the government has already made it clear that paying its staff is the school’s responsibility,” read the circular.

On May 22, HT reported about a school chain in the city asking nearly 150 of its employees to go on leave without pay until further notice. “A lot of schools are now telling teachers that they cannot pay them salaries citing balance payments from parents. Despite the majority of parents paying, teachers are being made to wait for their salaries,” said a teacher from a suburban school which has paid only 30% of the total salary to its staff.

Schools that do not pay their salaries would have to explain for not doing so and the education department can take action against such schools as per the circular.