Kathmandu, May 6
Nepal’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology says private schools will be prohibited from selling and distributing school uniforms, textbooks, stationery and school bags to students.
According to a five-point agreement signed in presence of the Minister for Education, Giriraj Mani Pokharel, on Saturday, the schools will also have to refund various fees collected from the guardians if they happen to cross the standard set by the government.
With the agreement, agitating student unions have withdrawn their protest programmes.
“The private schools sold textbooks, uniforms, and school bags from the school premises at expensive rates to their guardians making huge profits from such essential items. The guardians were compelled to buy the stationery and uniforms at a high price and could not even bargain,” said Surendra Basnet, Vice-President of the All Nepal National Independent Students Union (Revolutionary).
But now, the fees taken unlawfully should either be refunded or adjusted, and a committee would be formed to ensure monitoring of such activities.
Likewise, the provision of providing 10 per cent scholarship should be made transparent.
