Guardians demand implementation of fee fixation directives

Kathmandu, April 4

Guardians of schoolchildren today demanded that the government implement the Institutional School Fee Fixation Standard Directives-2016 and provide textbooks to students in time.

A joint meeting of Guardian Association of Nepal and Nepal National Guardian Association held today decided to ask the Ministry of Education to ensure students’ right to education at an affordable cost as well as students’ right to free textbooks.

Nepal Government had introduced Institutional School Fee Fixation Standard Directives-2016 on March 11 with the intention of regulating the exorbitant fee structure of institutional schools. However, the schools have refused to follow it.

The directives have asked institutional schools to pass the fee structure of each class through the meeting of Parent-Teacher House (PTH) by two-third majority, but none of the schools have called the PTH as yet. Meanwhile, institutional schools have been accused of fleecing parents in the name of quality education.

Sarita Aryal, vice-president of GAN, today said though the directives were brought into operation after a comprehensive consultation with private schools’ umbrella organisations, they have failed to abide by it.

She added that the government was mum regarding printing and delivery of school textbooks to students in various parts of the country.

The meeting held today also demanded the representation of the guardian associations in National Education Committee.

Student unions aligned to various political parties in government and opposition are also protesting for the implementation of these directives.

They have decided to draw the attention of the education minister towards this issue.

Along with demand to end black-marketing of petroleum products and other essential goods, the student unions have decided to put pressure on the education ministry to implement past agreements and regulate private schools.

Aryal informed that the two guardian associations were set to organise a National Assembly on June 4. “The national assembly of guardians will take a decision on forming a federation of guardians in the near future,” she added.