Kathmandu, April 19:

Maoist student wing, the All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R), today expressed serious concern about the collection of fees under different heads, including admission fee, by state-owned and private schools.

The union said it was breach of the 19-point agreement reached with the union last year and it would take action against such schools that were charging exorbitant fees from the students and parents against the accord. “We request all government schools to admit students without charging any fee until the next government is formed and another provision is introduced to address the issue,” said ANNISU-R president Lekhnath Neupane at a press conference organised here today. He also requested the parents not to pay fees under any head.

Private school owners had signed a 19-point accord with the union some 11 months ago. As per the accord, schools are not supposed to charge admission fee each year and not hike fees unilaterally. The union said the private schools have been fleecing students and parents. “The decision to hike the fees by private schools is against the agreement,” Neupane said, adding, “We request all private schools to stop collecting additional fees immediately.” The private schools had a few weeks ago decided to hike fees by 20 per cent beginning this academic session.

“We will be forced to fight against such schools if the problem persisted,” he warned. However, Neupane clarified that his union would not go for physical action against such schools, but will opt for social and legal means to solve the problem.

The union also formed a 15-member committee under the coordination of its general secretary Himal Sharma to monitor the implementation of the 19-point agreement in both the government and private schools. Neupane also urged the government to advertise vacancy for 62,000 teachers and hire them through free competition.

The union demanded that the royal palace and the property of the royal family be nationalised and utilised for developing the education sector.