The District Education Office here has ordered Samata Sikshya Niketan not to run classes of second to the seventh grades after finding out that the school has taken admissions into grades it does not have permission to run.
On April 25 this year, the DEO had given permission to the school to run classes up to the first grade. The school had sought permission to run classes up to the fifth grade but the DEO had refused citing Education Regulations that permit the addition of only one grade in one academic session.
Following a complaint that the school had illegally admitted students up to the seventh grade, the DEO conducted field inspection and ordered the school to stop classes of second grade to seventh grade.
"When we visited the school, officials concerned refused to meet us," said Gehendra Dahal, a senior DEO official.
So far, the school has taken admissions of nearly 2,000 students.
Guardians rushed to get their kids admitted in the school owing to the school´s reputation of providing quality education while charging very low fees. The school charges just Rs 100 for admission and Rs 100 per month as tuition fee.
Admitted students are already purchasing textbooks.
However, classes have yet to start as the school´s building that has 42 rooms is still under construction.
"Classes should have started from April 15," said District Education Office Mahendra Poudel. "We wrote to the school asking not to play with the future of the students."
Guardians are in a fix following the DEO order to the school.
The school, however, said it would get permission for running classes of second to fifth grades from the Department of Education by virtue of being a service-oriented school, while classes of sixth and seventh grades would be run as coaching classes. The school also said that it could not complete construction of the school building on time due to strikes, and would make it a point to start running classes from June 15.
However, Poudel said the school would in no way be recognized as a service-oriented school as it is registered under the Company Act.
"For recognition as service-oriented school, a school needs to be registered as a public trust. However, Samata is registered under the Company Act," Poudel said.
"When we visited the school, officials concerned refused to meet us," said Gehendra Dahal, a senior DEO official.
So far, the school has taken admissions of nearly 2,000 students.
Guardians rushed to get their kids admitted in the school owing to the school´s reputation of providing quality education while charging very low fees. The school charges just Rs 100 for admission and Rs 100 per month as tuition fee.
Admitted students are already purchasing textbooks.
However, classes have yet to start as the school´s building that has 42 rooms is still under construction.
"Classes should have started from April 15," said District Education Office Mahendra Poudel. "We wrote to the school asking not to play with the future of the students."
Guardians are in a fix following the DEO order to the school.
The school, however, said it would get permission for running classes of second to fifth grades from the Department of Education by virtue of being a service-oriented school, while classes of sixth and seventh grades would be run as coaching classes. The school also said that it could not complete construction of the school building on time due to strikes, and would make it a point to start running classes from June 15.
However, Poudel said the school would in no way be recognized as a service-oriented school as it is registered under the Company Act.
"For recognition as service-oriented school, a school needs to be registered as a public trust. However, Samata is registered under the Company Act," Poudel said.
(Source: Republica Nepal)
