Gaighat, September 4:

Thirty community schools in Uyadaypur have closed down from today following Maoist threats.

Earlier, All Nepal National Independent Student Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) had demanded that the management of the community schools be completely handed over to the government. They had subsequently locked up all community schools on Friday. Students and teachers had to return to their homes after finding the schools padlocked in the morning.

Private boarding schools in the district have also been closed for a month following Maoist threats. In Jhapa, Nepal Teachers’ Union (NTU), demanded the transfer of the management of community schools back to the government after over half of such schools there remained shut due to Maoist threats. The NTU accused the government of running away from responsibility by transferring the management of schools to the community. A source close to ANNFSU said the schools will be closed until the government takes back the decision to transfer the management of schools to the community.