Student Union Protests Government's 'Education Equity Fee'

Kathmandu. All Nepal National Independent Student Union (Revolutionary) has protested the 'Education Equity Fee' imposed by the government in the education sector. 

Central Coordinator of the organization, Birendra Shah, issued a press statement on Friday, claiming that the fee implemented through the budget for the fiscal year 2083/84 is anti-people. He demanded that the government immediately abolish this fee.

The student organization has termed the government's imposition of a 3 percent 'Education Equity Fee' on private school students through the new budget as an anti-people move. Although Article 31 of the constitution guarantees education up to the secondary level as a fundamental right free of charge, the government has made education a means of collecting taxes, the statement said.

Revolutionary accuses the rulers of turning a sensitive sector like education into a business and a means of tax collection. The statement reads, 'Parasitic capitalist rulers are busy making the public destitute by using education as a tool for tax collection.'

Coordinator Shah recalled that his organization has been demanding the improvement of government schools and a minimum of 20 percent investment in the education sector from the total budget. Furthermore, Revolutionary has expressed serious objection to the hefty fees being collected in community schools in the name of 'parental support'.

The student organization has called upon all students, parents, and concerned stakeholders to completely boycott this unjust tax imposed by the government. It has also warned private schools not to create mental and psychological distress for students and parents under the pretext of collecting the 3 percent fee.

The organization has warned of strong street protests if the government's policy is not immediately abolished. The statement reads, 'We heartily call upon the general public and all parties for joint initiatives and resistance struggles to compel the return of the anti-people tax.'