KATHMANDU: Various student unions on Wednesday issued a joint appeal for legal action against the schools shying away from implementing the School Fee Determination Standard Directive, 2072.

The 14 student unions including Nepal Students Union, All Nepal National Free Students Union and All Nepal National Independent Students Union–Revolutionary held a joint press conference demanding action against as many as 13 schools in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.

The schools that have fallen under the student unions' scrutiny include Rato Bangala, DAV, Little Angels, Ideal Model, GEMS, Brihaspati Vidya Sadan, Siddartha Banasthali and Galaxy among others.

NSU spokesperson UP Lamichhane said recent inspections carried out in those schools showed absence of financial transparency while more than Rs 30,000 was being charged in grade one.

Likewise, irregularity in scholarship distribution, fees charged under unnecessary topics and physical infrastructure were found to be in violation of set standard, he added.

The student unions have drawn attention of Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel towards the urgency for taking immediate steps to ensure that the directive was enforced, Lamichhane said.