Implementation of tuition fee guidelines unlikely

Kathmandu, March 17

Implementation of Institutional School Fee Fixation Standard Directives-2016 introduced on March 11 appears unlikely as two main implementing partners Private and Boarding Schools Organisation Nepal and National Private and Boarding Schools Association Nepal have refused to follow the directives.

They have claimed that the directives have been introduced with the intent of shutting down all institutional schools. The guidelines sets out 32 minimum standards institutional schools should meet.

Similarly, it also talks about tuition fee ceiling, titles under which students may be charged, scholarships, fee approval process, among other things.

Baikuntha Aryal, director, Department of Education, said the directives were brought to regulate institutional schools that have been fleecing parents.

“We are only trying to regulate schools that have been charging exorbitant fees,” he said, adding, “We want schools to seek approval of two-thirds of parents while fixing tuition fees. This will help make the fee structure transparent.”

Aryal said, “The directives were approved by representatives from all sectors, including PABSON and NPABSON. Hence, the schools must follow them,” he added.

Lachhe Bahadur KC, president, PABSON, said the government was trying to close all institutional schools by introducing the directives. “We had also demanded a scientific method for fixing school fee.

But the directives have so many provisions, which are almost impossible to implement,” he said, adding that seeking approval of two-thirds parents while fixing school fee was not practical.

He also said that it was not possible for schools to meet all standards within three years.

KC said PABSON’s national council meeting held a few weeks ago in Nawalparasi had also opposed the directives.

Karna Bahadur Shahi, president, NPABSAN, said the directives were introduced without their consent. “The directives were endorsed without our consent. Hence, we cannot implement it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Suprabhat Bhandari, president, Guardians Association of Nepal, said students and parents were not going to stay mum if private schools did not follow the directives.

Likewise, a meeting of student unions, including All Nepal National Free Students Union, All Nepal National Independent Students Union and Nepal Student Union have also decided to draw the attention of government to strictly implement the directives.