Private School Operator's Agitation Postponed, Online Classes to Continue:
Private school operators have postponed the agitation saying that the talks with the government have been positive. They have even decided not to block online reading.
Tikaram Puri, chairman of the Private and Institutional School Organization Nepal (PABSON), said that the agitation was postponed due to the ongoing talks with Education, Science and Technology Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel.
The school administrators had made public the programs of the movement saying that they were not allowed to collect the fees even during the lockdown period. Although the government has officially started online classes only from June, PABSON and N-PABSON (Nepal Private and Institutional School Organization) have been demanding that fees be levied from April.
They demand immediate enrollment of students amid the Covid-19 epidemic. Puri said the government should bring relief package like bank interest and school building rent deduction.
Decision not to interrupt studies
PABSON and N-PABSON had announced an indefinite suspension of online, offline, radio, television, and cable TV classes from July 8. After joint discussions with the ministry, teachers 'federation, parents' association, and teachers working in private schools, PABSON decided not to disrupt the study.
Rituraj Sapkota, chairman of N-PABSON, accused the Ministry of Education of not providing relief and facilitation for private schools with 3.1 million students. Sapkota warned to agitate again if the talks do not yield positive results.
Release issued by Private and Boarding Schools Organization Nepal (PABSON) and National Private and Boarding Schools Association Nepal (N-PABSON):
In today's world of trauma due to the COVID-19 infection, Nepal is not immune to its global impact. The initiative of the government and the entire sector to save the health of the citizens is requested due to the lockdown and management done by the Government of Nepal from 11th Chaitra 2076.
But due to the lockdown caused by COVID-19, all the activities of the country have come to a standstill and the omnipotent area of the country has been affected. While the entire sector of the country has been devastated, the private sector has suffered the most. The private sector, which has invested in education, has reached a point where it cannot rise. It is unfortunate that the government has not been able to prioritize this sector, which has played an important role in fulfilling the national and international objectives of education. It is not uncommon for private investment education organizations to be outraged by the double standards pursued by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, ignoring the fact that millions of jobs have been created and billions saved from foreigners.
Meanwhile, the government has started a continuous learning campaign from the 1st of Asar. According to the school, which is run on parental fees, archiving has created legal difficulties even in the time-consuming teaching process. The teaching/learning programs conducted by schools across the country through online/offline, radio, television and cable have been suspended indefinitely from 22nd Asar due to the inability of the school to survive, not even being allowed to do the necessary work for the payment of obligations and due to this. There is solidarity among the private school operators and stakeholders across the country who are compelled to join the movement.
In the presence of Hon'ble Minister of Education, Science, and Technology, a meeting was held on 21st Asar 2077 BS with the officials of Pawson National PABSON, Parents Association, Teachers Federation, ISTU, and Ministry officials on the common demand of private schools. The answer has been received. On behalf of the Ministry, it has been decided to continue the dialogue program by postponing the program of the movement as the stakeholders are positive about the immediate demand of private schools in the government mechanism of corona transition management. If the government does not respond positively to our demands, effective programs of further agitation will be made public.
