There is no denying the fact that private schools have contributed much in the development of the education sector in Nepal. These schools, however, are often criticised for their uncanny and self-seeking activities. Although all the teaching-learning activities have come to a complete halt ever since the enforcement of the nationwide lockdown on March 24, private school operators have made frequent attempts to collect fees from guardians under different headings. It is embarrassing to note that they piled pressure on guardians to raise the fees even for the entire school closure period. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) had to issue a circular telling them not to do so. There is no doubt that the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictive measures taken to contain the deadly virus disease have adversely affected all the economic and social sectors. Schools and colleges are not an exception. They have been passing through a critical situation as classes have remained disrupted.

As their bargaining chip, the private schools have taken another unpopular move to suspend online classes since last Thursday. They have also sent all the teachers and other staff on unpaid leave. This decision has directly or indirectly affected many people. Through such a harsh step, the schools have aimed at pressurising the government to allow them to collect fees. This decision has also worried students and guardians, who are not in a position to look for an option as the virus fears continue. Another grudge against these schools is that they have not given salaries to teachers as well as administrative staff after the imposition of the lockdown. The impatience of private school operators is a clear indication that they are only concerned about their business, but not about the future of students. In the name of imparting ‘quality’ education, they have just wanted to make money. If they were really doing the social services, they would not act in an irresponsible manner.

As per a fresh report of the Centre for Education and Human Resource Development (CEHRD) under the MoEST, most of the private schools are centred in the urban areas. The number of such schools is also not so significant. Of 36,450 schools across the country, only 6,411 are private. State 1, Bagmati State and State 5 have higher number of private schools as compared to other states. Bagmati State alone has 1,914 such schools while there are only 175 in Karnali State. It is obvious that community schools have much higher number of students compared to the private ones. Out of 6,910,852 students studying in school level throughout the nation, 4,917,313 are studying in community schools while only 1,993,539 are in private schools. The total number of school level teachers in the country stands at 316,734. Of them, 227,886 are working in community schools and the remaining 88,848 teach in private schools. The government is monitoring the situation to reopen schools as the prolonged disruption of classes has had negative impact on the academic session itself. It is high time that the government stepped up necessary measures to tame the private schools and ensure that they are running responsibly.