New Academic Session Begins in Nepal Amidst Enrollment Fee Controversy

Kathmandu. Today marks the formal commencement of the new academic session. As per the government's decision, the academic session for the school level has been initiated from the 15th of Baishakh.

Previously, the academic session used to begin on the 2nd of Baishakh. However, to prevent private schools from admitting students before the annual examinations concluded and in response to the difficult fuel supply situation, a decision was made to start school admissions from the 15th of Baishakh. Nevertheless, with the facilitation of some local levels, student admissions have already taken place before the 15th of Baishakh.

The government had directed on the 22nd of Chaitra to refund admission and other fees being collected by private (institutional) schools, which is against the law.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology had requested all concerned local levels to initiate legal proceedings to refund fees collected beyond those stipulated by the 'Criteria for Fee Determination in Institutional Schools, 2072' and admission fees collected illegally.

The Supreme Court had issued an interim order directing schools not to publish admission notices when the results of students' annual examinations had not been published, the academic session had not begun, and the original certificates, including mark sheets, had not been received as per Rule 78 (1) (c) of the Education Regulations, 2059. Justice Balkrishna Dhakal's single bench had ordered that the student admission process should be conducted after the commencement of the academic session, in accordance with the Education Regulations, 2059. Previously, the academic session used to operate from the 2nd of Baishakh.

The order mentioned the need to maintain coordination between examination results, the academic session, and the necessary certificates. The court directed the concerned bodies to act in accordance with the prevailing laws and also ordered the respondents to submit a written response within 15 days.

In a notice published on the 5th of Chaitra by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Centre for Education Development and Human Resource Development, Sano Thimi, Bhaktapur, it was directed to conduct the admission program only after the completion of the annual examinations, publication of results, and the commencement of the new academic session 2083.