In the proposal submitted to the DEO, the umbrella body of institutional schools has sought to increase tuition fees for ‘C’ grade schools to Rs 2,575 (for primary level), Rs 2,631 (lower secondary) and Rs 2,981 (secondary). The Private and Institutional Schools Directives puts the schools in four categories. ‘B’ grade schools can charge 25 percent more than ‘C’ grade schools while ‘A’ grade institutions are authroised to charge 50 percent extra.

The proposed fee is 124 percent more than what was fixed three years ago. Private schools have not formally increased fees since a 2012 Supreme Court verdict that directed them not to hike tuition fees for another three years. They were required to limit admission fees to Rs 150.

Earlier, ‘C’ grade schools were authorised to charge a maximum of Rs 1,100 in the primary level, Rs 1,250 in the lower secondary level and Rs 1,700 in the secondary level. As per the Directives, the ‘A’ grade schools could charge up to Rs 2,250 in the secondary level. However, a majority of ‘A’ ranking schools had been charging secondary students Rs5,000 on average.

The private schools have claimed that they should be allowed to make increments that are “needed” for their sustenance as they have not hiked the fees for the past three years. They have cited the rise in the teachers’ salary for the hike. They claim to be paying secondary teachers Rs 24,000, lower secondary teachers Rs21,720 and helpers Rs 10,000 every month.

Suprabhat Bhandari, president of Guardians’ Association Nepal, said the proposal was unreasonable. “They show fake expenses to increase the fees. We strongly oppose this,” he added. According to District Education Officer Bal Krishna Ranjeet, the district-level fee determining committee will decide the fees on Sunday. The DEO has formed a five-member committee led by Under-secretary Dwarika Pokhrel to take a decision.