Local govts responsible for regulating school fees, says government

KATHMANDU: The government has clarified that the primary responsibility for monitoring and taking action against schools collecting illegal admission and annual fees lies with local governments.

Government spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel made the remarks while responding to journalists’ questions on school fee regulation and ongoing student protests.

He said the government has not introduced any new rule banning admission fees, but is only enforcing existing provisions in the Education Regulations.

“We have not created a new rule saying admission fees cannot be taken. We are simply enforcing what is already in the Education Regulations,” Pokharel said. “According to the regulations, admission fees cannot be charged more than once at the same level.”

He added that if any school is found charging fees beyond the legal limit, the authority to regulate and take action up to Grade 12 lies with local governments.

The federal government has also assured full support to local authorities in taking action against such schools.

Pokharel said multiple complaints had been received regarding irregular fee collection, prompting a recent discussion with mayors of Kathmandu and Lalitpur metropolitan cities, as well as representatives from the municipal and rural municipality mayor forums.

“We have told them clearly that they are the regulatory authority. We have also created a mechanism to forward complaints received at the federal level to local governments,” he said. “If any legal action requires support from the federal government or the Ministry of Education or Home Administration, we are ready to act immediately.”

According to him, local representatives have also expressed commitment to take action against violators.

Responding to a question on whether excess fees would be refunded, Pokharel reiterated that enforcement and regulatory action rest with local governments, while the federal government will assist when necessary.

He also commented on student organizations staging a discussion by placing an empty chair to symbolically target the Education Minister.

“It is good that discussions are being held,” he said. “I have already engaged in open debate during the elections and have been elected. We are now implementing policies and legal decisions based on our manifesto, which has already been endorsed by the public mandate.”