The Ministry of Education has yet again warned private schools not to charge fees beyond the prescribed limits.

According to the ministry, the highest number of complaints about private schools concern the fees they collect, particularly around the time when one academic session ends and a new one begins.

Parents have filed complaints with the ministry, local governments, and other authorities, accusing private schools of arbitrarily charging fees under headings such as admission and annual fees.

Joint Secretary Shiva Kumar Sapkota, spokesperson for the ministry, issued a statement on Sunday cautioning schools against collecting arbitrary fees. The ministry said it had taken serious note of reports and evidence indicating that some private schools were enrolling students and collecting hefty fees even before the formal commencement of the 2026 academic session.

It strictly directed schools to enrol students only after the academic session begins, while also asking them to comply with this order and to collect fees only in accordance with the Institutional (Private) School Fee Determination Criteria Directive, 2015.

Sapkota urged schools not to collect fees other than those specified in the directive. If any additional fees have been collected unlawfully, schools have been asked to refund the money to parents. The ministry warned that schools failing to do so would face action under the Education Act and other prevailing laws.

Through the Ministry of Federal Affairs, the education ministry on Tuesday again instructed all 753 local governments to ensure that schools do not charge excessive fees. The ministry said it had received complaints that schools were charging more than the approved fees, charging under unapproved headings, and repeatedly collecting admission fees from students already enrolled.

The ministry has issued a circular to local governments to take action if schools are found to be charging additional fees.

According to the directive, private schools may charge fees under 14 specific categories: monthly tuition, annual fee, admission fee, deposit, examination fee, computer fee, transfer certificate fee, special training, hostel accommodation, meals, transportation, educational tours, inter-school competitions, and educational materials.

The directive states that monthly tuition cannot be charged for more than 12 months in a year. Admission fees may be charged only once and must not exceed one month’s approved tuition fee. These fees must be approved by the relevant authorities, and schools are required to obtain approval for their fee structure from the concerned local government.

The directive also stipulates that the annual fee cannot exceed the equivalent of two months’ approved tuition fee. This amount should be spent on sports, extracurricular activities, laboratories, libraries, building maintenance, and first aid.

Similarly, the directive sets limits on examination and educational material fees. It states that examination fees must not exceed 50 percent of the approved monthly tuition fee for each grade, and the cost of conducting examinations and printing transfer certificates should be covered within this amount.

For educational materials, schools may charge only 10 percent of the monthly tuition fee once a year.

The directive also outlines standards for school operations, areas of expenditure, fee determination, and approval procedures.

For hostel accommodation, meals, and transportation, the directive states that fees must be determined through meetings with parents. Hostel fees must be determined through an agreement between the school and the parents of residential students. Food charges must be approved by parents who use the service, while transportation fees must be approved by two-thirds of the parents whose children use the service.

The Ministry of Education introduced the fee determination directive about 10 years ago under the Education Act 1971 and the Education Regulations 2002.

Violating the directive can result in penalties, including a fine of up to Rs25,000, cancellation of the school’s licence, and other legal action. The directive states that a school may be fined up to Rs25,000 for the first offence, depending on the severity of the violation, while a second offence could result in the cancellation of its operating licence. Charging fees without following the prescribed procedures will be considered completely illegal and subject to legal action.

Schools must be given an opportunity to defend themselves before any such action is taken.

Public schools, however, are not allowed to charge fees under any heading, as mandated by the Compulsory and Free Education Act. Private schools, on the other hand, are required to provide free scholarships to a certain number of students.

Yuvraj Sharma, president of the Higher Institution and Secondary School Association, said that private institutions are being unfairly criticised even though they operate in accordance with existing laws.

“We collect fees only after obtaining approval from local governments. We have also provided 10 to 15 percent scholarships. Yet private schools are being accused of charging illegal fees,” he said.

Sharma claims the directive is now 10 years old and should be revised to reflect current circumstances.

“There are ambiguities in some provisions. School education has now come under the jurisdiction of local governments, but the directive does not incorporate this aspect,” Sharma said. “Parents also have the right to choose schools depending on the level of fees they are willing to pay.”

He added that while the private sector should be regulated by the state, some issues require planning and should be resolved through dialogue and discussion.

According to the law, privately funded schools and public educational trusts must provide scholarships to students from early childhood development through Grade 12. Schools with up to 500 students must provide at least 10 percent scholarships, those with students ranging from 500 to 800 must provide 12 percent, and those with more than 800 must provide 15 percent free education.

The Compulsory and Free Education Regulations 2020 stipulates that a Scholarship Management Committee, chaired by the mayor or the chairperson of the local government, should oversee the distribution of scholarships.

Krishna Adhikari, president of the Private and Boarding Schools Association (Pabson), said private schools have been charging fees in accordance with the directive.

“The new government has started its work. Pabson has no reaction to the government’s activities,” he said.

On April 2, the Supreme Court issued an interim order directing schools to enrol students only after the academic session begins. Responding to a writ petition by Ayush Badal, a single bench of Justice Bal Krishna Dhakal issued notices to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Education, and other relevant bodies to strictly implement its order.

The court noted that students are legally required to submit their annual examination results and transfer certificates for admission, and that the school academic year runs from Baisakh 1 (mid-April) to the end of Chaitra (mid-April).

It also cited a notice issued by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Education Development and Human Resource Development Centre, Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, which directs schools to conduct annual examinations, publish results, and then start admissions for the new academic session 2083 under the Nepali calendar.

However, some private schools had already begun publishing notices and initiating admission processes since the beginning of Chaitra (mid-March).