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Kathmandu Friday May 18, 2001 Jestha 05, 2058.
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Schools to open Monday
Govt, PABSONs, ANNFSU(R) agree on temporary decision
By Nitya Nanda Timsina
KATHMANDU, May 17- Two private school organizations and All
Nepal National Free Students’ Union (Revolutionary) today arrived at a decision to
open all the private schools closed since May 14 following the arrest of the
representatives of the students body.
Two of the ANNFSU (R) were arrested just outside the main
gate of the Ministry of Education and Sports, the venue of the talks, on Saturday. Another
reason for the school closure was the seven-day strike-call given by the ANNFSU (R)
demanding 50 per cent reduction in the school fees among others.
The much-awaited decision came after nearly a week-long
heated debate between the Private and Boarding School Organizations , Nepal (PABSON),
National PABSON and the revolutionary students. All three agreed to resolve their
grievances related to private schools amongst themselves. "Today’s meeting was
constructive," said a representative of the ANNFSU (R).
After the end of the meeting, the Ministry of Education and
Sports called on all the parties related to education sector for talks at around 3 p.m.
However, the talks would continue for the next few days to work out a detailed framework
on regularization of private schools and increasing the quality and standard of public
schools, two of the other demands.
"All the schools will open from Monday," Rajesh
Khadka of PABSON told The Kathmandu Post over telephone.
However, the ANNFSU (R) said they have resolved most of their
contentious issues with the PABSONs, they were still not forthcoming about the decision of
the PABSON today saying the solution to the problem was far from over.
The ANNFSU (R) also said the much-awaited decision was not a
permanent one for the want of a conclusive government answer. However, the government
officials said the demands could not be effected on compulsion for they need the
recommendation of the committee requiring at least a five-week time.
"Our struggle is still continuing, come what may,"
said a press release signed by Purna Poudel, general secretary of ANNFSU (R) issued later
in the evening today.
The government said the five-member High Level Working
Committee formed last Saturday under the chairmanship of Nirmal Pande, member of the
Panning Commission, would report on the reforms to be effected in the education sector
after carrying out a detailed study including the recommendations made by the former
commissions.
The PABSON also said it formed its own working committee
following the deliberations between its members at Little Angels’ School today. The
committee will submit supplementary report to the government after a detailed study.
"It will play the role of "check and balance" with the High Level Working
Committee of the government," added Khadka.
Dr Man Prasad Wagle, a member of the committee, said today
that the committee would focus on the study of various aspects of reforms such as
regularization of private schools and improving the quality and standards of public
schools as per the demand of the ANNFSU (R) before arriving at a final decision within a
five-week time.
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