School Principal Raises 40 Lakh To Pay Students Fees

The News Cover: Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, when the lockdown was announced, you all are aware that schools all over India too have been closed since then. However, the teacher never refused to teach citing difficulties. Instead, they have been using different methods and conducting online classes. Teachers are working hard to ensure that the students do not miss out on their education. Shirley Pillai is the Principal of Powai English High School in Mumbai. She has been an educator for 35 years. Recently she noticed that students' final exam report cards kept piling up. Ms. Pillai informed the parents of the students to come to the school and collect the report cards. None of the parents turned up and Ms. Pillai wondered why is it so? She realised that the parents avoided coming to the school to collect the report cards as they would have to pay the school fees. Due to the lockdown, pay cuts, and financial constraints, parents were finding it difficult to pay school fees. 

That is why they avoided coming to the school. Seeing the plight of the parents, the Principal announced a 25% reduction in the school fees. Some of them paid, but some families from the weaker sections, still could not pay the fees. Ms. Pillai was worried as many children in the school, were poor and their parents were daily wage workers. She understood that this was because of the lockdown but she was worried because of the difficulty in paying fees, girl students would first be forced to drop out of schools. If parents have two kids - a boy and a girl, the parents would somehow try to adjust and pay the fees for the boy. However, the girl would first be forced to drop out. The Principal did not want any of the students whether boy or a girl to drop out. Ms. Pillai was aware of the difficulties and decided to take matters into her own hands. 

She began spreading messages to sponsor children’s education on social media. She contacted corporates through her personal network. She was able to collect Rs. 40 lakh from investors and other companies. She is glad and the money collected was to pay the fees of 200 students. These 200 students did not have to pay any fees for their education. The amount collected was for the year 2020. They are now looking at sponsors for students for the academic year of 2021-22. The school wants the students to remain stress-free about the fees. The Principal says she will continue to look out for funds so students can have a stress-free education. These students are truly blessed and happy to have an educator like her.