Private and Boarding Schools’ Organization, Nepal (PABSON) has urged the Maoist affiliated All Nepal National Independent Student Union-Revolutionary (ANNFSU-R), not to cause any hindrances to private schools.

Issuing a press statement on Saturday, PABSON said privately-run schools in Ilam, Kaski and Argankhanchi remain closed even as the country returned to democracy, due to the threats of ANNFSU-R.

PABSON office in Ilam said many private and boarding schools in the district are unable to run due to threats from the ANNISU-R, according to reports.

PABSON has appealed to all concerned organizations and officials to help open the schools in Ilam. There are 81 privately run schools in the district.

Meanwhile, in another statement, the PABSON Central Executive Committee said ANNISU-R had asked school operators to close down Hill Side Boarding High School of Kaski and other private schools in Argankhanchi.

Similarly, seven student unions have also shut down private schools in Butwal and Bhairawa, sources said.

The alliance demanded the schools to reduce tuition fees but the school operators said they were forced to increase fees to meet the demand for increment of teachers’ salary, which they said has been the same for the last seven years.