KATHMANDU: Thirteen different students unions affiliated to various political parties handed over a memorandum to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala on Sunday demanding withdrawal of fee hike in schools and waiving tuition fee of a month (April 25-May 31) when schools were closed in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Receiving the memorandum at his official residence at Baluwatar, PM Koirala said he would issue directives to the Education Minister Chitra Lekha Yadav in the meeting of the Council of Ministers scheduled for later today to withdraw the decision made by the private schools to hike the tuition fees and to write off the fees for the period the schools remained closed after the earthquake.

Prime Minister Koirala on the occasion urged the student leaders to withdraw protest programmes they have announced to press for their demands.

He also suggested to the student leaders to also inform other political party leaders of their demands.

According to UP Lamichhane, spokesperson of the Nepal Students Union, during the meeting PM Koirala stressed on the need of unity among all sides to overcome the adversity brought about by the natural disaster.