Chairperson, the question is whether we will declare education an essential service. Labour law explains essential services as those which society cannot do without even momentarily because of the potential loss of life or limb. Education does not qualify. Services which are truly essential and are classified as essentials, such as health, fire and police, are expected by law to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year.
Public schooling operates Monday to Friday, eight to three, and only 200 days of the 365. Hence, it does not qualify. If the point is that education is a very important service - yes, it is, but according to the law it does not qualify to be an essential service. It is an Apex Priority programme - the ruling party has education as its first priority. Yes, it is an important programme but it cannot be declared an essential service according to the law of this country.