Kathmandu, May 9
The KP Oli government is monitoring private schools based in the Kathmandu Valley from Monday, in the wake of complaints that some of them are collecting exorbitant fees. The monitoring is in keeping with a three-point understanding between the Ministry of Education and student unions.
As per the understanding, the government will fine private schools found collecting school fees by flouting relevant rules. It will make schools return money to parents if they are found fleecing the latter.
Hari Lamsal, spokesperson for the ministry, said they are taking the step to check how much fees schools are charging and whether they are flouting rules in the process.
The government has formed a committee under Khaga Raj Baral, director-general at the Department of Education, for the monitoring work. It also comprises representatives from Guardians’ Association of Nepal, student unions, DoE, district education offices and officials from the ministry.
For two days, student unions had monitored schools after the ministry remained quite even when private schools were overcharging parents at the beginning of the new academic session. In course of monitoring, these unions found that schools were collecting from each student up to 28,000 rupees in school fees in grade I. Lamsal said the ministry will mobilise district education offices for school monitoring.
