Teachers’ body demands scrapping of education tax:Says most guardians are not in a position to bear the additional expense

Kathmandu, March 13:

The Nepal Teachers’ Association (NTA) today said the government should bear the costs of education so as to ensure the people’s right to education as enshrined in the interim constitution.

The association said the government could increase tax on luxury items rather than imposing five per cent Education Service Tax on private schools.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the association to make public the decisions of the sixth national convention of the association, held in Kathmandu March 4-8, Mohan Gyawali, newly elected president of the association, said, “Our association is completely against the government decision to levy tax on private schools.”

“Many schools outside the Kathmandu Valley are charging nominal fees and only a few schools in the Valley are affordable to the affluent class,” he said. “Guardians of the majority of the schools are unable to bear the extra cost in the form of the tax.”

“The government seems to be irrational and it is bringing out strange ideas, which are enough to doubt the government’s intention to provide free education to its citizens,” he said. The convention appealed to the guardians, students, private schools and civil society to oppose the EST.

Keshav Niraula, general secretary of the NTA, said the students were worried about the possibility of disturbance in SLC examinations due to the bandh and strikes. “We appeal to the concerned parties to avoid such activities that create mental tension among students during the examination period,” he added.

The NTA has demanded the government to issue teaching licences through Teachers’ Council and Teachers’ Service Commission.

The sixth national convention has elected a 35-member new executive committee. The convention has made 25-point decision on educational issues and 12-point decision on political issues.

Bijukchhe joins abolition chorus

BHAKTAPUR: Narayan Man Bijukchhe, the president of the Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party, on Friday said that the five per Education Service Tax (EST) on private schools should be scrapped.

Inaugurating the 17th anniversary of Holy Garden English School, Bijukchhe said, “The government is creating a problem itself by imposing illegal tax on education sector. The only way to resolve this problem is to scrap the EST.

Instead of providing free education to the students, the government is trying to impose economic burden on them.” — HNS