Students took out a protest rally in Janakpur on Wednesday, demanding that educational institutions resume their classes.

The students holding placards staged demonstrations in various places in the city. They chanted slogans demanding that their rights to education be ensured. They complained that they were deprived of education as

educational institutions remained closed for the past four months owing to the protracted Tarai protests.

Though the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) agreed to resume schools, a student union affiliated to the Rastriya Madhes Samajbadi Party closed them starting Sunday. The protesting student union claimed that it was compelled to shut down schools as some school administrations charged fees for three months when classes were not run due to Tarai protests.

Sources said the educational institutions are facing difficulties due to the turf war between the SLMM and Sanghiya Samabesi Madhesi Alliance.

Meanwhile, a meeting of concerned stakeholders on Wednesday agreed to resume classes starting Thursday. Representatives from the SLMM, the alliance, Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation Nepal, National Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation Nepal, Higher Secondary Schools’ Association Nepal and

other stakeholders participated in the meeting to discuss the ways to end the ongoing crisis.