ANNISU-R calls off strike as private school operators agree to withdraw fee hike

The Maoist student wing, All Nepal National Independent Students Union- Revolutionary (ANNFISU-R) - has called off its ongoing strike in private schools after the school operators agreed to go back on their decision to hike student fees.

Talks between ANNISU-R leaders and representatives Private and Boarding Schools Organization Nepal (PABSON) and National-PABSON arrived at the agreement on Thursday. Talks were held in the presence of officials Ministry of Education.
ANNISU-R vice chairman Yuba Raj Chaulagain, who was also involved in the negotiations, informed that the union has agreed to end the strike and those private schools will open from Friday. As per the agreement, the Ministry of Education will constitute a taskforce to determine scientific fee structure and introduce it within the next 20 days.
The Maoist student wing had been padlocking all private and boarding schools across the country for the last few days, protesting the free hike.
Millions of students studying in private schools were forced to stay at home due to the strike.
Private schools had increased the fee up to 25 percent, citing growing inflation and rising operational costs including the increased salary of teachers.