Officials said Astha Pathshala was opened in the house owned by Minister Yadav at Lahan Municipality-1 about three years ago. So far, the school has not registered to the DEO as required by the education law. The school established by Surekhakumari Yadav and her husband Avash Kumar Yadav of Malhaniya-2 have been running classes up to grade eight.

A DEO official said the school operators have submitted application for registration only this year.

Siraha has one of the highest number of unregistered schools in the country. According to the DEO records, there are around 260 schools that are operating without the government permission. Some schools registered as lower secondary level

(up to grade eight) have been found running classes up to grade 10 for years. 

On March 29, the Appellate Court in Rajbiraj had directed the authorities to close down unregistered schools in the district. The court order has yet to be implemented. 

The Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation

Nepal (Pabson) and the National Private and Boarding Schools’ Association Nepal have accused the DEO of not acting  according to the court order.