Outline:
Protests and Demands Surround Nepal’s School Education Bill
Since the House of Representatives (HoR)’s Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee approved the School Education Bill on August 21 through a majority decision, various stakeholders have been voicing their concerns. The bill has become a focal point for protests from different groups, including teachers, private school operators, and student organizations.
On September 1, teachers and private school operators took to the streets in protest, while 17 student organizations also launched joint demonstrations against the provisions of the bill. This has led to a multi-sided counter-movement, with each group advocating for their own interests.
The bill, registered in the HoR on August 22, is scheduled for further deliberation on September 10. However, due to the intense lobbying by public school teachers and private school operators, the bill has faced a deadlock. Student organizations, now active participants in the protests, are demanding that the bill be more student-friendly.
Student Organizations Demand Changes
On Tuesday, joint student organizations submitted a memorandum to Acting Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh, urging the government to make the law more favorable for students. They emphasized that teacher recruitment should be entirely based on open competition, and that basic education is already free and compulsory, as mandated by law. They also called for an end to the establishment of new private schools.
Acting Prime Minister Singh acknowledged the demands and assured that he would bring them to the attention of the relevant authorities. He stated that the bill should be student and school-friendly, aligning with the government’s goals.
Student organizations have also demanded the removal of the 60 percent internal and 40 percent open provision for teacher recruitment, suggesting instead a 100 percent open competition system. They announced a weeklong protest program to continue pressuring the government.
Teachers’ Federation Pushes for Internal Recruitment
Meanwhile, the Nepal Teachers’ Federation (NTF), representing public school teachers, has been staging sit-ins and picketing political party offices since August 27. They are pushing for a 75 percent internal and 25 percent open recruitment ratio for teachers, arguing that this reflects the current situation.
On Tuesday, the NTF staged a two-hour sit-in at the Rastriya Swatantra Party headquarters. Earlier, they had submitted memoranda to six major political parties, as well as to all 753 local levels and 77 district education coordination units.
According to NTF General Secretary Tula Bahadur Thapa, the current bill sets the recruitment ratio at 60 percent internal and 40 percent open, which the federation finds unsatisfactory. They also demand that golden handshakes be provided to teachers who fail exams, as per previous precedents. Additionally, they oppose provisions that bar principals from joining trade unions.
Private School Operators Protest Non-Profit Requirements
On the other side, private school operators have taken to the streets, protesting the requirement for schools to operate on a non-profit basis and provide full scholarships. D.K. Dhungana, former Chair of the Private and Boarding Schools’ Organization Nepal (PABSON), said they had no choice but to stage demonstrations by blocking roads with empty school buses.
Private school operators plan to converge in Kathmandu on September 11 for a nationwide shutdown program. They argue that the non-profit requirement and scholarship provisions place an undue burden on their institutions.
Student Demands for Free Education
ANNFSU-R’s General Secretary Roshan Thapamagar highlighted the student organizations’ nine-point demand, which includes eliminating distortions caused by the privatization and commercialization of education. They advocate for education to be fully service-oriented and emphasize that all levels of education must gradually become free, as per the Constitution.
They also oppose the proposed upper age limit and qualification criteria for teacher recruitment, arguing that it could lead to a shortage of qualified teachers. Students demand the reinstatement of the previous age limit of 18-40 years and earlier qualification requirements.
Additionally, students want children of teachers, employees, and elected representatives who receive state salaries and benefits to be legally required to attend community schools.
Original Draft vs. Current Provisions
The original draft of the bill, tabled in 2023 by then-Education Minister Ashok Rai, included several student-friendly provisions. These included a 50-50 split for temporary teacher recruitment, requiring private schools to convert into community education trusts within 10 years, and mandating scholarships for students admitted to private schools.
However, once the bill reached the Education Committee, it became a battleground for competing interests, with lobbying by teachers and private school operators leading to significant changes. As a result, the bill has shifted focus away from key issues such as improving student learning outcomes, curricula, classroom facilities, and tracking learning achievements.