KATHMANDU, July 15: Thirty-eight private schools of Kathmandu have been penalized for hiking fees violating existing rules.
According to government authorities, almost all private schools in the Kathmandu Valley that increased fees did so without following the set criteria.
The government can charge a fine of Rs 25,000 to schools for hiking fees without meeting the set criteria.
“We have taken action against 28 schools in Kathmandu district for increasing fees by violating the rules,” said Kathmandu District Education Officer Shankar Gautam. “We charged a fine of Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000 against these schools,” he added, without divulging the details and names of those schools.
Private schools in Kathmandu district have increased fees under different heads such as building repair, sports, extracurricular activities, primary aid, computer, library, transportation and so on, according to Kathmandu District Education Office.
According to the Education Regulation, the proposals of determining fees should be submitted to the District Education Offices by January 15 each year. The District Education Offices need to grant permission by fixing ceiling of fees to the schools by February 15. The new academic session begins on April 15.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) in March issued a directive for private schools allowing them to increase fees only after seeking approval from two-thirds of the guardians and teachers assembly. The directive also requires schools to construct earthquake resistance school building, including ramps and dual exits, within three years. Otherwise, the license to operate the private schools shall be scrapped.
Fees Management and Monitoring Central Committee (FMMCC) asked the MoE on May 31 to seek clarifications within two weeks from the private schools that increased fees without following the rules.
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