Educational institutions in the Kathmandu Valley are collecting exorbitant sums from students in the name of entrance fees, despite a Supreme Court order that such fees should not be more than Rs 25.

The Institutional School Criteria and Operation Directives-2012 (ISCOD-2012) has also stipulated the same rate for entrance forms, but the government seems least bothered about controlling this unscrupulous practice.

As per government directives, the distribution of private schools’ admission forms started from March 14, one month before the new academic session.

Many schools under the Private and Boarding Schools Organisations Nepal (PABSON) have been charging around Rs 500 for entrance tests, especially for the primary level. Among them are the Hattiban-based Little Angels' School, Dhapakhel-based GEMS School, Lalitpur-based Subhatara School and the Thapagaun-based Pathshala.

These schools are charging Rs 500 for entrance form for Grade I to V students.

Umesh Shrestha, president of the Higher Secondary Schools' Association of Nepal and former president of PABSON, is the proprietor of the Little Angels', while former president of PABSON, Rajesh Khadka, is the proprietor of GEMS School.

Sanepa-based Radiant Readers Academy of DK Dhungana, general secretary of PABSON, is charging Rs 225 for school admission form.

Ramita Acharya of Pulchowk said though they know about the government-fixed rate for entrance form, they have no option but to pay the exorbitant sum.

“We cannot compromise when it comes to children's education, so we pay as much as the school charges," Acharya lamented.

Acharya lamented that the government does not bother to monitor the schools regularly and take action against the institutions that are at fault.

Suprabhat Bhandari, president of the Guardians' Association of Nepal, said such activities on the part of the schools have made a mockery of the court order and the government directives.

On his part, Rose Pande, assistant spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, said the District Education Office has failed to check irregularities in private schools due to ongoing School Leaving Certificate examinations.

Meanwhile, Babu Ram Pokharel, PABSON president, assured that his Tinkune-based VS Niketan School will follow the directives and urged member schools to not fleece students in the name of entrance fees.

source: The Himalayan Times,16 March 2013