Maoists force closure of all private schools

All private and boarding schools across the country remained closed on Friday due to the strike called by the pro-Maoist teachers affiliated Institutional School Teachers Union.

All private and boarding schools across the country remained closed on Friday due to the strike called by the pro-Maoist teachers affiliated Institutional School Teachers Union (ISTU).

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The group has been opposing commercialization of schools and is demanding the closure of all private schools in the country.

Meanwhile, Private and Boarding School Association of Nepal (PABSON) has called all private and boarding schools not to pay the five percent education tax the government has recently imposed upon all schools saying that the parents and the schools do not have capacity to pay it.

We have decided not to pay the education tax, which has been imposed by the Maoist government in an unjust manner, said President of PABSON Bhoj Bahadur Shah.

There are around 9,000 private and boarding schools across the country, which have decided not to pay the tax despite the government's warning to take stern action.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Baburam Bhattarai has warned that those schools failing to pay the tax will face strong action. He also warned that the students of those will be prevented to sit for the examinations of the School Living Certificate which is to start in a fortnight period.

A delegation from PABSON today met Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala and drew his attention towards their problem, Shah said.