Parents have filed complaints and grievances with the Ministry of Education, local levels and various bodies alleging that private schools are charging excessive fees for admission, annual fees and other topics.

The Ministry of Education has stated that the highest number of complaints have been received regarding the fees charged by private schools when one academic session ends and a new academic session begins. Ministry Spokesperson and Joint Secretary Shiva Kumar Sapkota issued a press release on Sunday warning against charging excessive fees.

It is said that the attention of the ministry has been drawn to the fact that evidence has emerged of students being admitted and heavy fees being collected before the start of the academic session 2083. The Supreme Court had also ordered that students be admitted only after the start of the academic session last week. The Ministry of Education has directed to implement the order and charge fees only as per the Institutional (Private) School Fee Determination Criteria Directive 2072.

Sapkota has urged that arrangements be made not to collect fees other than those determined by the directive. If the extra fee is illegal, parents are requested to return it. The ministry has warned that schools that do not return it will be taken action under the Education Act and other prevailing laws.

Private schools can charge fees under 14 headings

The guideline has made provision for private schools to charge fees under 14 different headings. It is mentioned that they can charge fees for monthly tuition, annual, admission, deposit, examination, computer, transfer certificate, special training, accommodation, food, transportation, educational tours, inter-school competition and educational materials. It has been provided that monthly tuition fees cannot be charged for more than 12 months in a year. According to the fee heading and criteria of the guideline, the admission fee can be charged only once for the class in which the student is admitted.

Admission fees cannot exceed 1 month's monthly fee. These fees can be charged only after getting approval from the concerned body. There is a provision for the school to get the fees approved from the concerned local level. The directive states that the annual fee can only be charged equal to the approved monthly fee for 2 months. The annual fee amount should be spent on sports, extracurricular activities, laboratory, library, building, and physical maintenance and first aid. The directive also sets standards for examination and educational material fees.

‘Examination fees cannot exceed 50 percent of the approved monthly tuition fee for each class. All expenses incurred in accordance with the examination criteria and the cost of printing transfer certificates must be included in this,’ the directive states, ‘Only 10 percent of the monthly tuition fee can be charged for educational materials once a year.’ The directive sets the school’s criteria, spending area demarcation, determination of fee rates, and method of approval and approval of fees.

Hostel, lunch/food and transportation fees to be determined by the parents’ meeting

The directive has made provision for the determination of accommodation (hostel), lunch/food and transportation fees in private schools by the parents’ meeting. ‘The fee for accommodation management will be determined as per the agreement between the parents of residential students and the school.

The fee must be approved by the parents’ meeting of residential students. The lunch and snack fee must be approved by the parents’ meeting of the parents who use the same service. The parents’ meeting of the students who use transportation must approve it by two-thirds of the parents’ meeting,’ the directive states.

What action will be taken against charging higher fees?

According to the Education Act 2028 and the Education Regulations 2059, the Ministry of Education implemented the Fee Determination Directive in private schools 10 years ago. The provisions of the directive stipulate a fine of up to 25,000, cancellation of the school’s license and action according to the prevailing law for violation.

‘For the first time, a fine of up to 25,000 will be imposed depending on the severity of the offense, cancellation of the school’s license and action according to the prevailing law will be considered completely illegal and action will be taken according to the prevailing law,’ the directive states. The school should be given a chance to clean up before taking such action. The Compulsory and Free Education Act has made provision that public schools should not charge fees under any heading. Private schools should provide free scholarships to designated students.

How many students should private schools provide scholarships to?

According to the act, privately funded schools and schools under public educational trusts must provide scholarships to students from early childhood development to grade 12. There is a provision that schools with up to 500 students must reserve places to provide free education to at least 10 percent of students, schools with 500 to 800 students must reserve places to provide free education to at least 12 percent of students, and schools with more than 800 students must reserve places to provide free education to at least 15 percent of students.