Unified CPN-Maoist-aligned student union All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary has threatened to padlock higher secondary schools if they fail to return the fees taken from those students who were awarded scholarships.

Last year, the Higher Secondary Education Board had made a provision of free education to scholarship awardees in institutional higher secondary schools across the country. However, some colleges have failed to abide by the provision and have been found to be charging more than Rs 30,000 from scholarship awardees.

Earlier, Plus Two colleges were allowed to charge Rs 1,000 per month from students of science faculty, Rs 650 per month for students of management faculty and Rs 350 for those pursuing education and humanities course. Last year, this provision was scrapped and a new rule was laid down as per which higher secondary schools were to provide free education to scholarship awardees. “Institutional college owners must stop charging fees from scholarship awardees and return the charged fees," Himal Sharma, President, ANNISU-R said. "We are forced to act on our own as the HSEB failed to initiate action against them."

source: the himalayan times,30 july 2014