After frequent attacks on higher secondary schools for their foreign names and “high” fees, the Higher Secondary Schools Association (Hissan) has decided to talk to student unions and the Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB).

A Central Committee meeting of Hissan on Tuesday decided to hold a tripartite dialogue within a week to solve the problem. The meeting, condemning the attacks on various Plus Two colleges on July 8 and July 16, resolved to invite student unions for a discussion. The Hissan has also urged the student unions concerned to give up their violent tactic. The unions have been reminded that the names were approved by the Company Registrar’s Office and the HSEB after a due legal procedure and that they can be changed only through a process involving the offices.

The Hissan has decided to hold a national conference of Plus Two colleges on August 25 in order to draft a code of conduct. “The conference will formulate a code of conduct for Plus Two schools across the nation regarding their names, fee structure and student quota,” said Hissan General Secretary Yuva Raj Sharma. “It will also devise Hissan’s future course of action regarding issues such as 0+2 and 9-12 school structures.”

Meanwhile, committees formed by the HSEB to monitor fee, advertisements, infrastructure and dress code in the Higher Secondary Schools have started their work. As of Tuesday, two committees have monitored around a dozen Plus Two schools. The committees have got until Friday to submit their reports.

The Nepal Students’ Union and the UCPN-Maoist-affiliated All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union-Revolutionary have been targeting private HS schools with foreign names arguing that the new nomenclature has oriented students on matters other than study.

source: The Kathmandu Post,18 July 2012