Education for all

The School Education Bill should be passed by capturing the spirit of the constitution.

The path to consensus on the School Education Bill is only getting murkier. While the bill has seen rounds of protests, negotiations and agreements, a conclusive decision remains elusive. More than one and a half years ago, teachers across the country protested over several points on the School Education Bill that was registered in the House of Representatives. After reaching an agreement, Nepal Teachers’ Federation, an elected umbrella body of teachers’ unions, called off its protests. However, the agreement was only symbolic, as time and again the government showed reluctance to endorse the bill in Parliament. Frustrated, teachers launched another round of protests, which they withdrew again by reaching a nine-point agreement with the government on April 30. Despite the parliamentary committee accelerating efforts to finalise the bill, differences remain.