Synopsis
On April 25, the Nepal government plans to hold a parliamentary session aimed at addressing the ongoing protests from teachers and facilitating the passage of the School Education Bill, which has faced delays. Teachers are demanding immediate reforms as their strike continues.Key Takeaways
- Nepal government sets April 25 for parliamentary session.
- Protests by teachers enter third week.
- School Education Bill remains stalled for over 18 months.
- Teachers demand immediate enactment of School Education Act.
- National Human Rights Commission calls for dialogue.
Kathmandu, April 16 (NationPress) The government of Nepal has scheduled a parliamentary session for April 25 to respond to the demands of educators who are currently protesting and to move forward with the School Education Bill.
The protests are now in their third week, with teachers continuing their nationwide strike to advocate for the swift implementation of the School Education Act.
On Tuesday, Nepal's President Ramchandra Paudel prorogued the federal parliament session without passing the School Education Bill, which has been stalled in a House Committee for over 18 months.
Reports indicate that educators from various regions have converged in Kathmandu, demanding the immediate enactment of the School Education Act, which has remained unaddressed in Parliament despite earlier government assurances.
Holding placards with messages like 'Respect the teaching profession' and 'Enact the education act now,' the teachers have initiated an indefinite street protest, marking a pivotal moment in their quest for educational reform.
The sit-in by teachers in the Maitighar-Naya Baneshwor area of Kathmandu since April 2 has significantly hindered the national enrollment drive and delayed critical academic activities, including the evaluation of answer sheets from the recent Secondary Education Examination (SEE). The teachers have stood firm against the government's request to commence student enrollment for the new academic year, which began on Tuesday, as reported by local media.
Nepal's Minister for Education Bidya Bhattarai stated that a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday evening decided to hold a House session on April 25 to facilitate the passage of the bill, according to the Kathmandu Post.
This decision follows a lack of significant progress in discussions between Ministry of Education representatives and teachers.
“If the Prime Minister, Nepali Congress President, CPN (Maoist Centre) chair, and the Speaker are willing, the School Education Bill can be passed without any more delays. All we seek is the Act that incorporates our demands,” explained Nanu Maya Parajuli, Joint-Chairperson of the Nepal Teachers’ Federation and coordinator of the dialogue team.
Simultaneously, the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal voiced serious concerns regarding the ongoing protests and urged all parties to resolve the situation through dialogue.
“Should the agitation persist, it will have repercussions on the results of the SEE examination, the Grade 12 examination, and the enrollment campaign for children. Furthermore, ongoing monitoring has shown that the protests have obstructed movement in the Maitighar area for the last 13 days. The necessity for agitation to meet their demands is troubling, as school closures hinder children's right to education,” stated the commission.
“Thus, we urge the government to address issues in this sensitive area of education through dialogue, ensuring the resumption of teaching and learning, timely formulation of education-related laws with proper consultation of stakeholders, and adherence to previously established agreements with teachers,” it further stated.
