The government introduced the School Education Bill without consulting enough with the stakeholders concerned, it is said. In a meeting of the Sustainable Development and Good Governance National Assembly today, Committee President Prakash Panth was of the opinion that the government and the authorities concerned are expected to remain alert to the need to enhance the quality of education and implement the citizen's fundamental rights ensured by the Constitution.
He said that broader discussions with stakeholders were essential before introducing the Bill. He advised the government to ensure sufficient preparations before working on the draft of any law.
Committee member Narayan Prasad Dahal said teachers took to the streets against the draft of the Bill as it was brought without addressing various agreements reached between the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and Nepal Teachers' Federation at different times. "It seems the government is ready to sign the agreement but hesitates to enforce them." In some cases, the line Minister remains unaware of the full contents of the Bill. It is a structural shortcoming, he added.
Lawmaker Anita Dahal stressed the need to bring a bill capable of addressing the issues in the education sector. PABSON President DK Dhungana, who attended the meeting as an invitee, said the private sector has contributed to the promotion of quality education and the State is not expected to interfere in guardians' choice of schools.
Community School Management Committee Federation central president Gunaraj Moktan urged the government to involve the Federation as a partner at the policy and decision-making level. Guardian's Association, Nepal president Keshab Puri believed that if the State failed to ensure free education, community schools should be allowed to charge certain fees.
Nepal National Guardians' Association's Ram Prasad Neuapne proposed that the State's high-ranking people and government employees be mandated to send their children to community schools. Higher Secondary School Teachers Union Nepal (HISTUN) president Tika Prasad Neupane demanded that the government fix teachers ' quotas for higher-secondary education.
It may be noted that the registration of the Bill in the House of Representatives on September 13 sparked teacher's Kathmandu-centered intense demonstration from September 20-22 at the call of the Nepal Teachers' Federation. The protest ended with the signing the six-point agreement between the government and the agitating side on September 22.
However, teachers eligible for contribution-based pension and those appointed on the relief quota continue to protest at the local Maitighar, citing that the agreement failed to address their concerns about professional rights and job security.
