Nation»
School reopening nowhere in sight
KATHMANDU, APR 26 -
All private schools across the country remained closed for the second consecutive day on Monday, forcing around 1.5 million students to sit home twiddling their thumbs.
Demanding immediate withdrawal of the fee hike announced by private schools, All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R), the student wing of UCPN (Maoist), has announced an indefinite closure since Sunday.
With no sign of agreement between the agitating ANNISU-R and the umbrella organisation of the private schools, it is doubtful as to when classes will resume.
Private schools are hopeful of a breakthrough soon. “We are ready to sit for talks,” said Rajesh Khadka, President of Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation Nepal (PABSON), speaking at a programme at Reporters’ Club here on Monday. “The government must do the needful to allow classes to resume at the earliest.”
Khadka, however, said they would not hold parleys with ANNISU-R alone. The PABSON chief said the price hike and increment of teachers’ salary had compelled them to increase school fees.
The striking student union has a different story to tell. “The decision to hike fees is exploitation of students and guardians and very much against the people’s will,” said ANNISU-R President Lekhnath Neupane. “We will not call off the strike until our demands are met.”
Refuting allegations that the school closure has a political meaning, he said they are always ready to sit for talks. Chairman of Nepal Guardians’ Association Suprabhat Bhandari said issues raised by ANNISU-R are genuine.
Senior advisor of PABSON Umesh Shrestha stressed that laws relating to school fees needs modification. “The laws must be designed to meet the demands of changing times.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education said officials are trying to investigate how much the schools are charging students.
Posted on: 2010-04-27 07:15
Headlines
Advertisements
