Four umbrella organizations representing Nepal's private educational institutions have demanded that the government withdraw the 3% Education Equity Fee introduced through the national budget.
The demand was made during a joint press conference organized by the four organizations. The government has announced that, beginning from the fiscal year 2083/84 B.S. (2026/27 A.D.), private educational institutions will be required to collect a 3% Education Equity Fee.
The organizations: PABSON, National PABSAN, HISSAN, and APEN described the fee as impractical, unjustified, and inappropriate.
Speaking at the press conference, Krishna Prasad Adhikari, President of PABSON, stated that imposing an additional fee on students goes against the spirit of Nepal's Constitution. He explained that private schools submit their proposed fee structures to local governments in Chaitra, receive approval in Baisakh, and begin the new academic session in Baisakh, while the new fiscal year starts in Shrawan.
"We have already informed parents of the approved fee structure for the current academic session and are collecting fees accordingly. Imposing an additional 3% in the middle of the academic year would place an unnecessary financial burden on parents, and many may not be able to pay it," he said.
Similarly, Subash Neupane, President of National PABSAN, argued that the government's decision contradicts the constitutional spirit. He stated that private educational institutions already contribute billions of rupees in investment and pay millions in taxes annually, and that the additional fee would ultimately burden students and their families.
Yubaraj Sharma, President of HISSAN, noted that private educational institutions already provide 10–15% scholarships to students, which effectively serves as a form of social contribution. He claimed that imposing another mandatory fee appears to be an attempt to weaken and eventually force private institutions to shut down.
In their joint press statement, the organizations also put forward several additional demands, including:
- Providing collateral-free educational loans of at least NPR 1 million to students pursuing higher education at concessional interest rates.
- Reinstating Sunday as a public holiday.
- Reviewing the 10th Amendment to the Education Regulations, stating that it has failed to address several important issues.
