Private schools are in a hurry to raise fees

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) had said that teaching would be provided through alternative means to continue the learning of children from June 20. Even if the school is not open, the students at home are told to start classes through print, radio, television and online.

Private school operators, on the other hand, have demanded that students be enrolled and charged before starting classes as an alternative. They have been pressuring the ruling CPN (Maoist) leaders, including Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel, to ensure that they are allowed to collect fees.

Pabson and NPabson had earlier said they would start enrolling students and online classes from Wednesday. After the Ministry of Education paved the way for conducting classes through open and distance education from June 20, the school principals have been forced to make arrangements to collect fees. The ministry has stated that the study / teaching is being done through alternative methods only to continue the learning of the children. It is not recognized as a formal class. During the lockdown, some private school operators had demanded fees from parents. They have demanded that the school administration should be opened and online classes should be conducted. During the lockdown, more than a dozen private schools, including the Himalayan White House and Kavya, had lodged complaints at the local level demanding fees. Those schools have been alerted by the local level.

The Chandbagh School in the capital has directed the parents to pay the annual fee along with the students for the month of April. However, the Ministry of Education has issued a circular not to charge fees for the month of April and not to charge any amount for online classes.

At the beginning of the academic session, private schools used to charge fees from parents for titles including student admission. This time, the educational institutions have been closed since March 25. As the lockdown dragged on, private schools began preparing for online admissions and classes. The Ministry of Education has stopped charging fees by conducting online classes. To minimize the impact of Corona, school administrators demanded budget concessions. As the budget did not address the issue of concessions, it was said that virtual classes would be conducted and students would be admitted from June 7. The ministry has paved the way for the alternative education by issuing a directive on July 20.

Officials of PABSON and NPABSON have reached the Education Minister with a memorandum to open school administration and enroll students. Rajendra Baniya, senior vice-president of Pabson, said that students cannot be taught without enrollment. They demand that online classes be formalized and charged. "While providing concessions to other sectors in the budget, the private sector has been neglected," he said. Officials of Pabson and NPabson who visited the minister had warned the government to close the existing private schools and hand over the truth.

Following the demands of Pabson and NPabson, Education Minister Pokharel has called for a discussion on Thursday. Ministry spokesperson Deepak Sharma said private school operators were dissatisfied with the budget not being addressed. He said private schools should coordinate with the local government on fees. "The online class has not been formally recognized yet. It has been asked not to charge any fee till now," he said. The Ministry has issued directives on teaching and learning activities through alternative methods and entrusted the responsibility of conducting reading and teaching to the local level, schools, teachers and parents.

Students' unions have said private schools are in a hurry to raise fees and that online classes should not be recognized. There is a demand from UNRWA, Nevisanghal and other student organizations that equality should be maintained in community and private schools by starting the academic session at the same time.