SC orders govt to implement constitutional provision of free education up to secondary level

The Supreme Court (SC) has directed the government to ensure free education up to secondary level as per the provision in the interim constitution, Monday.

Hearing on a writ filed by All Nepal National Independent Students' Union – Revolutionary (ANNISU-R), the student wing of the UCPN (Maoist), Monday, a division bench of SC justices Balram KC and Bharat Raj Uprety ordered the government to  ensure free education to everyone up to tenth grade by making necessary changes in the laws and regulations.

At present, the government is providing free education only up to eighth grade. However, the government is providing free education in community schools up to 12th grade to students from the Dalit community, marginalised community and Karnali region.

Sub-article 2 of article 17 in the interim constitution mentions, every citizen shall have the right to get free education up to the secondary level from the State, as provided in law.
ANNISU-R had filed the writ at the Supreme Court last year claiming the government's denial of free education to all citizens till 10th grade had deprived financially weak people of the right to education.