Education ministry launches help desk to address excessive school Fees

Kathmandu- Nepal’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has launched a help desk at the Education Development and Human Resource Development Center to address complaints related to excessive fees charged by private schools.

The help desk is being led by the center’s director, Nim Prakash Singh Rathour. Students and parents can directly file complaints regarding school fees by calling 98511214638.

The ministry has instructed schools not to charge fees beyond the approved limits and to refund any excess amount already collected. Despite these directives, complaints from parents have continued, with many alleging that private schools are charging arbitrary fees under headings such as admission and annual charges.

The Supreme Court of Nepal has also ordered that student admissions should only take place after the official start of the academic session. The ministry has repeatedly warned private schools not to enroll students before the academic session begins and not to charge fees exceeding the approved standards.

According to the Education Act 2028, schools that collect fees in violation of the law must refund the excess amount or face fines of up to NPR 25,000.

As per the Institutional School Fee Determination Guidelines 2072, private schools are allowed to charge fees under only 14 specific categories, including monthly tuition, annual fees, admission fees, deposits, examination fees, computer fees, transfer fees, special training fees, hostel fees, meal charges, transportation fees, educational tour fees, inter-school competition fees, and charges for educational materials.