Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Education, Health and Information Technology Committee of the House of Representatives has prepared a report on the School Education Bill, leaving unresolved issues pending.
The report will be finalized following discussions at a meeting of the Consultation and Coordination Subcommittee, attended by officials from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, among others.
Committee Chairperson Ammar Bahadur Thapa said the report will then be reviewed and amended as necessary in the committee’s meeting and passed. It will then be forwarded to Parliament.
“Although the report has been drafted, political consensus is needed to resolve some issues. Our target is to pass the Bill in the ongoing session of parliament,” Thapa said.
However, one provision concerning private schools, which was settled earlier, has resurfaced for debate again. Private school operators have launched protests opposing the provision of full scholarship, including free boarding and uniform facilities, for students. They have also opposed the proposal of converting schools into non-profit entities.
On Thursday, the subcommittee discussed the proposal to bring private schools under the trust model. Earlier, the committee had already approved a provision allowing schools to operate under either a company or trust model.
According to a subcommittee member, the earlier arrangement allowed schools to operate as companies by default. Schools, however, were free to convert to the trust model voluntarily.
Private school operators have been arguing that full scholarships are not feasible. They have proposed continuing the existing 10% scholarship provision, which covers only admission fees, annual fees, and monthly tuition.
Private school operators have categorically stated that providing boarding and uniforms is not financially possible.
The subcommittee’s report states that full scholarships cover tuition, exam fees, textbooks, uniforms, transportation, and, if available, boarding facilities.
