High School Fees

The importance of education is second to none. In a society that is increasingly complex, knowledge-based, and shaped by rapid technological advances, mere literacy no longer suffices; individuals must spend years of learning to adapt to changing needs and demands. Education empowers individuals and communities to lead productive and meaningful lives. Therefore, it is accorded high priority in nearly every country, whether rich or poor. Every year, a significant portion of the national budget is allocated for education. In a society that is also becoming increasingly competitive, where coveted positions and lucrative careers are reserved for highly educated or talented individuals, quality education right from school is supposed to create a pathway to these goals. This is why many parents prefer private schools, believing they offer better education than public schools. 

This obsession with quality explains why private schools have been mushrooming across the country. Even the parents from low-income backgrounds aspire to enrol their wards in expensive private schools in the hope that the education there will lay a foundation for them to build a future out of poverty. This fixation has given schools strong bargaining power to justify their high fees to the extent that even if fees are illegal, parents often pay silently to secure admission for their children. It's no secret that many private schools function like businesses rather than service institutions. It is evident from the complaints of parents. They have been alleging that some schools have crossed the red line and charged extra charges, in some cases, an exorbitant, hidden and unapproved amount, under different headings such as admission, annual, and activity fees, among others. 

Nepal already has rules like the Private School Fee Determination Directive (2015), which stipulates that fees must follow approved categories and schools cannot charge arbitrary or repeated admission fees.  Schools must not deviate from the stated rules under any condition. Factors such as weak monitoring and a lack of punishment for errant schools have failed to force schools to correct their course. However, the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Balendra Shah has shown a strong commitment to address these irregularities. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology directed that fees collected illegally from students be refunded, warning private schools not to charge fees beyond the prescribed limits. It has also instructed all concerned to return such unlawfully collected fees to students. 

Earlier, on April 5, the ministry had issued a notice expressing serious concern that some private schools had been enrolling students before the start of the academic session and charging excessive fees beyond the approved standard, in violation of existing laws and a Supreme Court order. The ministry further stated that if any school is found defying this directive, additional legal action will be initiated in accordance with the relevant provisions of the law and other prevailing regulations.

At the same time, it is also essential to see things from a private school perspective. Many operate on leased land, the cost of which has jumped substantially over the years, if not annually. They, too, have other financial obligations such as repayment of debt taken to stuff school with critical infrastructure. They also claim to have taken every measure to comply with the laws. Rising inflation, staff salaries and cost of living have meant that many are struggling financially. That said, these cannot be reasons to justify the excessive charges. In no way can they breach the directive and go too far and charge exorbitantly. The government should also work to address the issues these schools are grappling with.