KATHMANDU, MAR 20 - Boarding and private schools are set to hike their fees by 20 to 35 percent across the country from this acade-mic year beginning April 15. The hike exceeds the government ceiling. 

A majority of schools have proposed such fee structures without consulting the school management committee, according to a source.

As per the Fee Determining and Monitoring Committee (FDMC) under the Ministry of Education (MoE), ‘C’ grade schools up till higher secondary level can charge maximum Rs. 1,000, while the fee for grade ‘A’ schools should not exceed Rs. 1,900 for the same level. But most schools have proposed a fee structure over Rs. 1,500, even for the primary level.

According to the MoE source, proprietors have been proposing increased fee structure at every FDMC meeting.

For instance, at the meeting on March 13, Pathsala Nepal proposed Rs. 1,050 monthly fee for primary level and Rs. 1,100 for lower secon-dary level and Rs. 1,150 for higher secondary level. At the meeting on March 18, it again proposed Rs. 1,500, Rs. 1,800 and Rs. 1,900 fees for the respective levels.

Subsequently, Xavier International had proposed Rs. 1,100, Rs. 1,700 and Rs. 1,950 for these levels at the first meeting, but later it increased the fees to Rs. 1,800, Rs. 2,100 and Rs. 2,450 for the respective levels.

Although boarding schools say the fee hike is to provide more facilities and salaries for teachers and staff and meet expenses, teachers and guardians are against this logic.

President of Institutional Schools Teachers’ Union Surendra Sharma said that school proprietors are trying to cheat students and guardians. “Ninety-five percent of boarding schools are yet to give teachers their appointment letters. Neither do they pay adequate salary nor allowances to teachers and staff,” added sharma.

President of Guardian’s Association Nepal Suprabhat Bhandari said it’s not logical to increase fees and they would not let the hike be implemented at any cost.

“If we don’t increase the fees, we cannot run our schools, since teachers demand their salaries and allowances as per the government scale. Besides, the prices of commodities have doubled in comparison to last year,” said Gita Rana, president of National Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation (N-PABSON).

Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation (PABSON), however, has not taken any institutional decision to this effect, said Bijaya Sambahamphe, general secretary of PABSON.

Proposed monthly fee structure for five valley schools

Pathshala Nepal

Primarly level     Rs. 1,500

Lower Secondary Level      Rs. 1,800

Higher Secondary Level       Rs. 1,900

Xavier International

Primary Level      Rs. 1,800

Lower Secondary Level     Rs. 2,100

Higher Secondary Level      Rs. 2,450

Galaxy Public School

Primary Level     Rs. 2,600

Lower Secondary Level     Rs. 2,800

Higher Secondary Level      Rs. 3,000

VS Niketan

Primary Level     Rs. 1,200

Lower Secondary Level      Rs. 1,695

Higher Secondary level       Rs. 1,995

Chelsea International

Primary Level     Rs. 2,000

Lower Secondary Level     Rs. 2,000

Higher Secondary Level     Rs. 2,200

Posted on: 2010-03-20 12:00

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