CJP urges teachers to alter protest tactics
Since April 2, the Nepal Teachers' Association has been engaged in a street protest.
KATHMANDU: The Child Peace Zone National Campaign (CJP) has urged teachers and school staff to change the approach of their ongoing protest while raising awareness about students’ rights.
Since April 2, the Nepal Teachers’ Association has been engaged in a street protest centered in Kathmandu, which has affected community school enrollment drives, the evaluation of SEE answer sheets, and the Class 12 examination.
“Your legitimate demands should be met. We have said the same, but even if the protest continues, change its form,” said CJP General Secretary Tilottama Paudel. “Find alternatives to ensure that the basic enrollment campaign, the publication of pending results, and the Class 12 exams are not disrupted. Be more aware of children’s rights.”
Article 31 of Nepal’s Constitution ensures the right to basic education for every citizen. According to the National Census of 2021, 34.84% of the population consists of children.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Speaker of the House of Representatives Devraj Ghimire separately met with officials from the Nepal Teachers’ Association on April 18 to discuss ongoing teacher protests and potential solutions. In response, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology was preparing to propose cabinet actions for addressing demands that can be immediately met.
However, uncertainty arose with the resignation of Education Minister Bidhya Bhattarai.
The association’s protests have been fueled by demands such as the swift passage of the School Education Bill, 2024, based on previous agreements.
On April 15, the Cabinet decided to call a session of the federal parliament to facilitate the passage of the bill, which is currently under consideration. Efforts are underway to present the bill to the parliament by the third week of April.
In the same meeting, the Cabinet expressed commitment to addressing the association’s demands and urged teachers to return to schools, considering the impact of the protest on the school enrollment campaign, SEE answer sheet evaluations, and Class 12 exams.
