Student unions aligned to various political parties staged a sit-in protest in front of the Department of Education (DoE), demanding that the government withdraw the decision to hike tuition fees in institutional schools.
Members of Nepal Students Union (NSU), All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU), aligned to CPN-UML and All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) staged the sit-in for about two hours from 10 am on 16th April.
The agitating students also handed over a three-point memorandum to Dilli Ram Rimal, Director General, DoE, demanding that the fee hike decision be withdrawn. Their other demands include new policy to determine fee structure of institutional schools and its implementation by all schools, and 10 per cent scholarship to students in a transparent way.
Responding to the agitating student unions, Rimal said that he would forward their charter of demand to the Ministry of Education for discussion. “I cannot revoke the fee hike decision, so I will take the issue up with the higher level for discussion,” said Rimal. He also assured the student unions of new policy to determine the fee structure for institutional schools.
The nine student unions yesterday had decided to obstruct admission in institutional schools across the country. ANNISU-R cadres aligned to CPN-Maoist have been padlocking accounts section of institutional schools since April 13.The student unions have also warned of nationwide educational strike from Sunday if the government fails to withdraw its fee hike decision by Saturday.
