The current Coronavirus pandemic has exposed private schools’ soft underbellies which have seen three universities closed and their top officials arrested. Many have focused on the business side of things to the detriment of quality education and have been depending on student fees to stay afloat. Now, with schools closed for the past few months, many are suffering and it will be a miracle if some reopen their doors after the virus is brought under control. Right now many are depending on bank loans to pay the few staff still on duty or rent for the premises they use but that is unsustainable. Now the Higher Education Council (HEC) has drawn the red line. It has announced that it is putting in place stringent conditions for higher institutions of learning which the latter will have to strictly adhere to. One of the conditions that will likely lead to the closure of more schools is to furnish HEC with proof of financial sustainability by August 15, have their own premises and stop renting and to bar owners of the schools from interfering with administrative and accounting matters. That last part is one of the biggest challenges where owners “borrow” money but are reluctant to reimburse because of their misplaced notion of ownership. They override their accountants, fail to pay suppliers or landlords and end up with loads of debt. So it does not come as a surprise that quality education becomes the first casualty. But as long as HEC has identified the bottlenecks and taken firm action, it is not too late to sort out the issue.
