Private Schools Push Back on Education Bill — Pressure Builds Ahead of August Deadline

Kathmandu, August 11, 2025 — Private school organizations across Nepal are intensifying pressure on lawmakers regarding controversial clauses in the proposed School Education Bill. The Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation, Nepal (PABSON) and the Higher Institutions and Secondary Schools’ Association Nepal (HISAN) have issued a joint statement urging revisions and warning of protests if their demands are not met by August 13. The Kathmandu Post

These associations object to provisions that aim to transform private schools into welfare-based, service-oriented, and eventually non-profit institutions. While the bill does not explicitly outline a timeline or mechanism for this conversion, the ambiguity alarms operators. Among their key grievances:

• They reject the notion of “full scholarships”, instead seeking to maintain the existing model where only 10% of students receive support.
• They insist that scholarships should continue covering primarily tuition, admission, and annual fees, not additional entitlements. The Kathmandu Post

They are also pushing back against fee regulation measures. According to the Education Committee’s plan, private schools would be required to publicize fee structures two months before the academic year begins and adhere to limits set by local authorities. Although the constitution upholds free and compulsory education, operators argue that profit-making schools are still permitted under the new bill. The Kathmandu Post

Additionally, previous proposals to mandate existing private schools become trusts within a set timeframe, while allowing new ones to register as companies, were softened after lobbying efforts. The bill now allows both existing and new institutions to continue as companies. The Kathmandu Post

If lawmakers fail to address these concerns by August 13, the private school associations are ready to launch demonstrations starting the next day. The Kathmandu Post