Kolkata: Association for Welfare of Private Educational Institutions (AWPEI) was launched on Monday, including private school leaders, educational institution owners, trustees, directors, principals, academics, legal and medical professionals, mental health counsellors, and NGOs.The new organisation aims to bring multiple private schools, across educational boards, in the state under a platform to steer the education system in the right direction and provide support to each other as and when required.AWPEI vice-president Imran Zaki said, “The organisation is not merely an association of educational institutions but a collective platform for collaboration, empowerment and meaningful change. Our aim is to bring institutions and educators together, share knowledge and best practices, and address the evolving needs of students, teachers and the wider educational community.” Recalling the suicide of a class X student in 2023, Sucharita Roy Chowdhury, the secretary of the organisation, said, “Justice was delivered after six months but the emotional curse remains for long. No educational institution can’t handle such situations alone. We felt a common platform was required if such a situation arises,” she said.This platform will be treated as a common platform to discuss issues related to curriculum, besides safety and mental well-being of students and teachers. The legal implications of different acts, including Pocso, and other challenges will be looked after by law firms. The association also collaborated with reputed private hospitals in the city. Health cards will be provided to the members for regular health check ups and for emergency purposes. School principals, NGOs, mental health experts, doctors and top hospital officials extended their support to the organisation.John Bagul, a former school principal, said, “This organisation was needed because the heads of the institutions are always considered liable for untoward circumstances. Now, there is at least a platform to discuss problems and get guided by experts.”
