Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee member Badri Pandey has revealed additional controversies arising in the School Education Bill.
Speaking at a parliamentary committee interview program organized during the Silver Jubilee of the Education Journalists Group, he mentioned that while some topics were easily agreed upon by the committee, there were disputes over certain issues. Despite the committee's efforts to make the bill comprehensive, he acknowledged that some topics remained contentious. Committee Chairman Bhanubhakta Joshi highlighted the challenges the bill faced and emphasized the need to balance various interests during the discussion.
Joshi explained that the bill, which incorporated amendments proposed by the parliament and agreements reached with the government regarding teacher employees, presented a challenging task in ensuring its overall prosperity. He stated, "Efforts are being made to pass the bill in the upcoming session, despite facing challenges. We must address issues without creating disputes and make the bill effective."
Referring to Article 9 of the Constitution, which places education under the joint jurisdiction of all three tiers of government, Joshi mentioned that the School Education Bill had progressed accordingly. The committee had initiated discussions beyond the bill to explore the opinions of provinces and local levels. Joshi stressed that the committee had attempted to involve regions and local bodies in the deliberations to ensure comprehensive input.
He expressed the major challenge in determining the model for school education in the bill, stating that the matter was serious and required careful consideration. Despite extensive discussions with stakeholders, the chairman emphasized the need for careful consideration before moving forward.
During the event organized on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee, Education Minister Ashok Kumar Rai highlighted the multifaceted discussions and efforts made to grant local bodies authority over school education. The discussions revealed various perspectives, emphasizing the necessity of providing local bodies with rights related to school education.
Regarding the passage of the School Education Bill from the Hetauda Assembly, Joshi mentioned that both the government and the committee were actively involved. He stated, "Passing the bill from Hetauda is a positive step. We request your cooperation; this is a positive effort. If the bill can be swiftly passed, it can be implemented in the next session of the National Assembly."
Joshi further disclosed that rules and regulations had been formulated to facilitate effective implementation, particularly in removing unqualified teachers. He emphasized the new laws' role in resolving the issue of strikes within schools, saying, "The new law addresses the problem of strikes in schools."
In summary, the discussion highlighted the ongoing challenges and efforts to pass the School Education Bill, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive approach and collaboration between various stakeholders.
