Lalitpur, August 24 :

The only public school in Lalitpur district that supports students from economically backward communities to pursue free education is facing financial hardship to run its daily business.

Shree Harisiddhi Secondary School (SHSS), Harisiddhi is among 57 government high schools in the district that accommodates 701 students from nursery level to class twelve at very insignificant cost. The school expenditure is Rs 0.12 million per month, while it only receives Rs 0.11 million every month from the government.

Once a student pays Rs 495 at the time of admission, he/she does not have to pay a penny expect for the examination fees. But higher secondary students have to pay Rs 325 per month.

“We manage the deficit from nominal charges we take from students and financial support of Rs 37,000 from Care and Fair- an organisation that supports the children of carpet factory labourers,” said Hari Govinda Maharjan, headmaster of the school.

Ful Maya Tamang, who works in a carpet factory with her mother has recently passed class twelve from the SHSS. With six siblings studying in the same school free of cost, she says the provision of scholarship in the school has made education accessible to family like hers.

Govinda Prasad Regmi, officiating district education officer of Lalitpur

said, as per the government policy, government schools provide free ships to the students between class 1 and 5.

“However, the schools can charge fees for various purposes with the consent of parents,” Regmi said.

Satya Narayan Maharjan, president of the board of directors of the school, said, “The school caters to the need of Harisiddhi village development committee, where people are from low income group.”