KATHMANDU: The student unions have issued a three-day ultimatum to private schools to withdraw the decision to charge fees on students for the period in the aftermath of the massive earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale which struck Nepal on April 25. The student unions had earlier drawn the attention of the Ministry of Education to the demand. Earlier, a dialogue held between the ministry and private schools to press for waiver of fees resulted in an abortive attempt with private schools refusing to relinquish fees. All Nepal National Free Student Union Spokesperson RC Lamichhane said, “At a time of crisis, everyone should be helping everyone, but the private schools’ decision to charge fees for that particular month has rubbed salt over fresh wounds.” Lamichhane said an agreement reached between the student unions and private schools to withdraw the decision to increase fee charge was also not implemented. He pressed for withdrawing the hiked fees and waiving the fees of ‘earthquake holidays’. Lamichhane warned of stringent agitation if the ultimatum was neglected. The schools that were closed after the massive earthquake reopened from May 31.