SC moved against private schools
A writ has been filed in the Supreme Court ( SC ) demanding a mandamus order against the violation of the Private and Institutional School Criteria and Operation Directive 2013 by private schools .
Advocates Shree Krishna Subedi and Rabin Subedi on Thursday moved the apex court arguing that most of the private schools have been breaching various provisions of the directive, which was formulated based on a SC verdict.
Delivering the final verdict on a writ petition filed by a group of advocates—Shree Krishna Subedi, Kapil Pokharel and Rabin Subedi—last year, a division of bench of justices comprising Tahir Ali Ansari and Baidhyanath Upadhaya on May 23 last year had ordered the private schools to not increase the charge of admission forms from Rs 25, fees by Rs 100 and hike tuition fee once in three years.
“The Supreme Court should intervene in the illegal act of the private schools to impose a levy on fees above the ceiling fixed by the directive,” read the writ. It also demanded that the sales of school textbooks from school premises be screened out.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education has decided to amend a number of provisions of the directive issued recently following a mounting pressure from private school organisations.
The government is preparing to amend the directive after the Private and Boarding School’s Organisation Nepal (Pabson) and the National Private and Boarding School’s Association Nepal (N-Pabson) raised concerns over its implementation. DoE Director Tek Narayan Pandey said some of the impractical provisions of the directive will be amended soon. The optimum number of students in a classroom and shifting of schools running in rented houses or land to other places, among others, are the provisions that are going to be amended, he said.
“Eleven provisions of the 49-point directive will be amended,” said Pandey amid a programme organised in the Capital.
source: the kathmandu post,12 april 2013
Posted on: 2013-04-12