Kathmandu, September 7

Article 31 of the Constitution of Nepal has guaranteed right to education as a fundamental right of citizens, which guarantees access to education and free education up to the secondary level, but the bill on compulsory and free education prepared by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology does not uphold the spirit of the constitution.

Mana Prasad Wagle, an educationist, claimed that though education experts had  earlier recommended six basic provisions — availability of free textbooks, free school uniform , free day meal, and free tuition, first aid and admission. “But, the bill states that only textbooks will be free and no tuition fee will be charged in public schools, ” added Wagle.

“The constitution has guaranteed free education, but the draft bill deprives children of free education,” he said, adding, “The bill has failed to address the problems of children studying in private schools. The government should also provide free education to the children of private schools up to secondary level,” shared Wagle.

Wagle also said that educationists had suggested that the government should provide free day meal and school uniform, but draft bill did not include any provision ensuring free day meal and uniform.

“There are few public schools which provide free day meal to children, but now they will be deprived from this too,” he said.