PALPA, April 19 -- In a bid to reform the school sector, two local units in Palpa have begun implementing their plan to close all private schools and turn them into community schools in their administrative areas so that children from all backgrounds can have access to an education.

Purbakhola Rural Municipality and Gulmi Durbar Rural Municipality both initiated the 'no private school' plan with the formal start of a new academic session that began on April 15. While all schools in Purbakhola have been merged, in Gulmi Durbar only one private high school has become a public educational institution as of now.

Purbakhola Rural Municipality had five private schools, all up to grade 5, and 37 community schools. All the private institutions ...