Chandigarh: Over 2,600 private schools across Punjab on Wednesday continued their shutdown for the second day after the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) recently disaffiliated 187 schools for not complying with its rules.

Thousands of students studying in these schools could not attend classes due to the two-day shutdown announced by the managements of private schools in the state against the disaffiliation move.

The PSEB disaffiliated 187 schools after the managements of these schools failed to follow rules in giving basic minimum salaries to their teachers as prescribed by board rules.

But the managements of private schools maintained that they were unable to give higher salaries to teachers as their fee structure for students was low as well.

"How can we pay higher salaries when we charge low fees from students? We don't charge high fees as is done by high-end schools in bigger cities," R.S. Mann, Affiliated Schools Association President, said.

PSEB Chairman D.S. Dhillon defended the disaffiliation decision, saying this was done on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He assured the schools that follow the rules and give salaries properly that they would be affiliated with the board again.

-- IANS