Kathmandu, July 19 -- The old debate of whether and when private schools should be converted into trusts has resurfaced with the lawmakers discussing the School Education Bill that has been under consideration in Parliament for a year.

The previous government had in September last year registered the bill in Parliament, leaving it up to the existing private school whether or not to convert into trusts. Reverting from earlier preparations to impose a deadline for the conversion, the bill left it to the discretion of individual private schools.

However, cross-party lawmakers have registered amendments to the bill with provisions to set a deadline for such conversions. On Wednesday, the Education, Health and Information Technology Committe...