The Nepal Teachers' Federation has drawn attention to the delay in passing the School Education Bill. The federation has also warned that if the progressive education act that is friendly to schools, students, teachers and staff is not released, they will start a strong movement.
Federation President Laxmikishore Subedi and General Secretary Tula Bahadur Thapa issued a statement and accused the state side of not being serious about passing the pending bill in the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee. It is demanded that the bill be submitted to the House of Representatives immediately and passed. Otherwise, the Federation has stated that it will abandon dialogue and discussion and start a protest.
The teachers' federation has expressed its displeasure saying that the agreement to submit the bill to the House of Representatives by June 15th has been violated. "We draw the serious attention of the relevant parties to quickly complete the discussions on the Bill in the Parliament's Education Committee and submit it to the House of Representatives to pass the pioneering school education bill, which includes the previous consensus," the statement said, "otherwise, we urge you to be aware of the serious situation that may arise from the agitation, which will arise on the basis of anger, frustration and mistrust towards the state." A meeting of the Central Committee of the Federation was held before issuing the statement.
The Federation has said that the state side is serious and responsible in matters such as the permanence of temporary teachers, promotion of permanent teachers, departmental action, trade union rights, transfers, management of school staff, conflict-affected teachers, management of children's class teachers, matching and management of teacher vacancies. The federation also says that the report prepared by the sub-committee on the
bill was prepared forgetting the 29-day protest by the teachers in Kathmandu last April/May. The federation claims that during the protest, there was a discussion in the parliamentary committee against the violation of the agreement with the government, breaking the spirit of teachers and employees, the dignity of the teaching profession, and against empowerment.
"The ongoing discussion in the committee and the presentation of the Ministry of Education seem to be indulging in the government's arrogance and the tendency to abuse the education staff rather than focusing on the agreement reached with the federation, the educational needs and problems of the country," the statement said. The bill could not be passed due to the government asking for time since May 4 after the discussions on the bill between the MPs of the committee.
