Scholarship-Holding Students Denied Admission by Kathmandu Schools
Several private schools have reportedly refused to admit students who passed the scholarship examination conducted by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) for Grades 11 and 12.
Despite qualifying through the official scholarship program, students are being asked to pay various fees by school operators when seeking admission. This has caused significant mental stress. According to prevailing laws, schools are prohibited from charging any kind of fees to students selected through the metropolitan scholarship exam.
KMC has initiated monitoring and legal proceedings against some schools that demand excessive exam-related fees, force students to purchase expensive uniforms directly from the school, and collect fees for so-called extra classes.
Morgan International Secondary School Under Scrutiny
Morgan International Secondary School in Basundhara has been specifically named for demanding fees from scholarship students under false pretenses. KMC reports that the school not only charged high fees under the label of examinations but also sold uniforms at inflated prices.
22 Official Documents Demanded from the School
During the inspection, multiple irregularities were found. In response, the metropolitan authority has demanded 22 types of documents, including:
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Student details for Grades 11 and 12
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Complete fee structure charged to students
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Appointment letters of teachers and staff
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Educational qualification certificates of faculty members
Intense Dispute During Monitoring Visit
Last Thursday, a serious dispute occurred between the KMC inspection team and the school’s management. Shailendra Jha, a member of the KMC Urban Planning Commission, stated that the inspection was conducted due to excessive fee demands made by the school on scholarship-selected students.
According to Jha, numerous discrepancies were found during the inspection. The school has been given three days to submit the required documents. Further action will be taken based on a detailed review of these papers.
KMC has also received similar complaints against other private schools. It has committed to inspecting those institutions as well.
Over 10,000 Students Passed the Scholarship Entrance Exam
A total of 10,867 students passed the entrance exam for scholarship-based studies in Grades 11 and 12. Of these, around 4,000 students will receive free education based on merit. KMC has already published the third list of selected students according to priority ranking.
Students chosen through the scholarship program will be able to pursue their studies in institutional schools operating within Kathmandu Metropolitan City during the academic year 2082/83.
Legal Provisions Mandate Minimum Quotas for Scholarships
The Education Regulation 2067 (Eighth Amendment) mandates that institutional schools provide scholarships to at least 10% of their total student population for underprivileged, disabled, female, Dalit, and indigenous students.
The Compulsory and Free Education Act 2075 further requires:
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Schools with up to 500 students: at least 10% scholarships
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Schools with 500–800 students: at least 12% scholarships
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Schools with more than 800 students: at least 15% scholarships
