Many private educational institutions are on the verge of closure due to financial crises amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Owners of these private educational institutions, especially kindergarten and secondary schools, want to sell their institutions as they are unable to pay the salary of their teachers and staff, sources said.
All educational institutions in the country have remained closed since March 16 due to the virus outbreak. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina indicated that the educational institutions will remain closed till September if the situation does not improve.
In the current situation, although there is no problem for the teachers of government and MPO-registered educational institutions, 10 lakh teachers and employees of private educational institutions are in deep crisis. Entrepreneurs of some of these institutions want to sell their schools on not finding a way out. Many kindergartens are also trying to sell out. Notices of sale of these schools are hanging on different street corners and in front of the schools in the capital.
A computer-generated white paper advertisement has been pasted on various roads in the capital’s Mohammadpur area. The advertisement reads “A school with furniture will be sold.” The name of this school is Fulkuri Kindergarten & High School.
When contacted, Takbir Ahmed, founder and chairman of this school told Bangladesh Post, “I established this school in 2004. I have invested all of my resources in this school. I have no source of income without this school. I could not pay the salaries of teachers and staff as I am not getting tuition fees from the students since the last four months. What will I do if I don't sell the school?”
He said, “At least 250 students have studied in the school. There are 12 teachers and two employees. The rent of the building is Tk 46,000. The salary of teachers and employees is more than Tk 50,000. There are other costs as well.” “The children of low-income people including garment workers, CNG drivers, and tannery workers study in this school. They are not willing to pay tuition fees in any way,” he added.
‘Ideal Public School’ has been running for 15 years at Matikata in the capital. The number of students in the institution is more than 300. Recently, a notice has been hung to sell the school.
Nargis Akhter, the headmistress of the school said, “Every month we have to spend Tk 1 lakh to run this school. I have paid the rent and salaries of the teachers till March. I can’t pay any more. I need a lot of money to pay the rent and salary of staff. Where can I get it Therefore, I have posted a notice to sell the school. If I get the minimum price, I will sell it as soon as possible.”
The authority of ‘Ikra Ideal School, located at Bagichartech, Rampura in the capital, also wants to sell the school.
‘Dhaka Cadet School’ at Shantibagh in the capital has also been permanently closed due to the corona. Saidur Rahman, the headmaster of the school, has left the capital with his family and moved to his hometown, Satkhira.
Mizanur Rahman, secretary general of the Bangladesh Kindergarten Association, told Bangladesh Post, “About 70 percent of the country's kindergartens would be closed if the closure of educational institutions prolongs further due to corona. At the same time, about 10 lakh teachers and employees will become unemployed. Without the financial support of the government, 10 lakh families will fall into a deep crisis.”
