Teachers’ protest intensifies as School Education Bill remains unaddressed

KATHMANDU: The teachers’ protest centered in Kathmandu is set to escalate further as demands for the swift passage of the School Education Bill 2081 remain unmet.

Following unfruitful talks with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Speaker Devraj Ghimire, the Teachers’ Federation has announced plans to take the movement to a new, more decisive phase.

Accusing the government of not taking the movement seriously, the Federation has decided to call in more teachers from all 77 districts.

According to Nanumaya Parajuli, the Federation’s Vice-Chair and Coordinator of the Protest Mobilization Committee, no teachers will remain in classrooms as the movement now takes a national scale. “Teachers will arrive in Kathmandu in even greater numbers,” she said.

Rabin Rai, a teacher from Salpasilichho, Bhojpur, who arrived in the capital on Saturday evening, confirmed that teachers are reserving vehicles from across the country to join the protest. “Several buses are still entering Kathmandu,” he noted.

Despite continuous demands, the School Education Bill has not yet been tabled in Parliament. Prime Minister Oli had assured that the bill would be presented on 12 Baisakh and passed by 13 Baisakh, but past experiences of unimplemented agreements have left the protesting teachers skeptical.

Education Ministry Prepares Seven-Point Proposal

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology has prepared a seven-point proposal addressing key demands of the teachers. According to the secretariat of Education Minister Bidya Bhattarai, the proposal—reportedly agreed upon with the teachers—will be presented at the upcoming Cabinet meeting.

Key points in the proposal include setting the salary of Early Childhood Education teachers at Rs. 17,300, maintaining teachers’ ranking, grade adjustment, remote area allowances, and medical treatment concessions through the civil service hospital. It also includes provisions for sick leave for temporary teachers and remote allowances for relief teachers.

Empty Promises from the Government

Protesting teachers point to the repeated failure to implement earlier agreements, including a 30-point deal in 2075 under then-PM Oli, a 51-point agreement in 2078 under Sher Bahadur Deuba, and a 6-point deal in 2080 under PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal. This time, the Federation insists they will return only after their demands are fulfilled.

Though the government has expressed interest in resolving the issue, meaningful dialogue has yet to take place. On 25 Chaitra, PM Oli had assigned senior cabinet members to engage with the teachers, but they failed to gain the teachers’ trust.

Tensions have also been inflamed by the government spokesperson’s accusation that the protest is a “conspiracy to restore monarchy.” Speaker Ghimire’s recent remark that the Education Bill is not a priority has further weakened the morale of the protesting teachers.

Education Sector Paralyzed

Now into its 19th day, the movement has deeply disrupted the education sector.

Grade 12 exams are uncertain, Grade 8 results remain unpublished, and processes like SEE answer sheet evaluation, student admissions, and textbook distribution have come to a halt.

The protest appears to be entering a decisive and critical stage.