The Nepal government has decided to reconvene a parliamentary session on April 25 in a bid to address the ongoing nationwide protests by teachers and facilitate the passage of the long-pending School Education Bill.
The protests, which have now entered their third week, reflect growing frustration among educators over delays in enacting the School Education Act. Teachers from across the country have gathered in the capital, Kathmandu, pressing for immediate action.
They have criticised the government for failing to fulfil previous commitments and have declared an indefinite protest to demand urgent educational reforms.
Carrying placards with slogans like “Respect the teaching profession” and “Enact the education act now,” the teachers have continued their sit-in in the Maitighar-Naya Baneshwor area since April 2.
Their protest has significantly impacted key academic activities, including the ongoing national student enrollment campaign and the evaluation of answer sheets from the recently held Secondary Education Examination (SEE).
Despite government instructions to proceed with student enrollments for the new academic year, which began this week, many teachers have chosen to continue their agitation.
According to local media reports, the strike has disrupted the smooth functioning of schools and affected the academic calendar.
Last week, the existing session of Nepal’s federal parliament was abruptly prorogued by President Ramchandra Paudel on the recommendation of the government, without endorsing the School Education Bill.
The bill has been stalled in a House Committee for over a year and a half, despite mounting pressure and earlier promises of reform.
Following continued deadlock in negotiations between the Ministry of Education and representatives of the protesting teachers, a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday evening decided to reconvene Parliament to facilitate dialogue and passage of the bill, Education Minister Bidya Bhattarai told the media.
Nanu Maya Parajuli, Joint-Chairperson of the Nepal Teachers’ Federation and coordinator of the dialogue team, expressed dissatisfaction over the delay, stating that the bill could be passed swiftly if there was political will.
“If the Prime Minister, Nepali Congress President, CPN (Maoist Centre) chair, and the Speaker want, the School Education Bill can be endorsed without further delay. All we want is the Act incorporating our demands,” she said.
The protests have also drawn the attention of the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal, which issued a statement on Tuesday expressing deep concern.
The commission warned that continued disruption could affect not only the SEE and Grade 12 examinations but also children’s right to education. It also noted that the protest has created difficulties for public movement in the Maitighar area over the past two weeks.
The commission urged all parties to resolve the matter through dialogue, ensure the resumption of teaching activities, and draft necessary education laws through consultation with stakeholders. It also called on the government to honour past agreements made with the teachers’ unions.
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