THE League of Muslim School Proprietors (LEAMSP) has expressed pains over the effect of the new coronavirus pandemic on private school operators generally, saying unless government provides a bailout post-COVID-19, many of them might run of business soon, and many workers out of job.
He said one of the ways government could help private school owners get back on their feet is to make the first year of post-COVID-19 crisis levies-free.
The president of the group, Mr Abdulwaheed Obalakun, stated this in an exclusive interview with Tribube Education.
He noted that though COVID-19 has affected almost all sectors of the economy, the heat on private school operators in the country is unquantifiable.
Obalakun said more than 70 per cent of LEAMSP members have not been able to pay their workers February salary.
“And it is disturbing that we cannot also afford palliative materials to give to them during this COVID-19 pandemic at least to cushion the effect of the pandemic on them and their families,” he lamented.
He lamented that not only is income not coming in for any of the members since the closure of schools, they also do not have savings they would have fallen back on.
Obalakun said private schools business is not as lucrative as many people believe, adding that each private school spends up to 80 per cent of its earnings on salaries and operational costs.
Even at that, he explained, the money only comes in in bits as many parents don’t pay their children’s school fees until examination periods when such payment becomes mandatory.
“So, government would need to come to the aid of private schools in a way to be able to remain in business after COVID-19 crisis,” he said.
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