In the Karnali Province-level discussion on the ‘School Education Bill–2080,’ demands were made to include provisions in the law regarding teachers’ services, facilities, transfers, promotions, the term of the school management committee, educational policies, curricula, local languages, and their hierarchy.
The consultation was organized on Monday in Birendranagar, the capital of Karnali Province, by the Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee of the Federal Parliament, House of Representatives, to gather suggestions from stakeholders in the province regarding the ‘School Education Bill–2080.’
In the interaction, Yam Bahadur Shrestha, the principal of Jana Namuna Secondary School, Surkhet, emphasized the need for practical and objective implementation of the provisions written in the constitution. He also suggested that laws should be formulated so that local governments handle basic education, provincial governments manage secondary education, and the federal government takes ownership of education beyond that level.
Khagendra Thapa, the principal of AmarJyoti Model Secondary School, Neware, emphasized providing teachers with benefits and respect equivalent to civil servants.
Geeta Batala, a representative of Early Childhood Development Education, recommended that the term “teacher” be used in the law instead of “child development facilitator.”
Naina Singh Khatri, a representative of institutional schools, claimed that if the state were capable, they were ready to hand over all institutional schools to state management even now.
Makka Bahadur Budha Chhetri, senior vice-president of the Nepal Teachers’ Association Karnali Province Committee, accused political parties of making teachers political pawns. Purna Prasad Dhital, representing the National Association of Rural Municipalities, urged the committee to formulate a law that establishes the quality and standards of school education based on federal education policies.
Mohan Maya Dhakal, Mayor of Birendranagar Municipality, suggested that the provisions of the constitution should be clearly reflected in the laws being formulated.
Gauri Nand Acharya, Chief of the District Coordination Committee, Jumla, pointed out that open political activities in the education sector have led to irregularities.
Jeewan Bahadur Shahi, leader of the Nepali Congress in the Karnali Provincial Assembly and former Chief Minister, expressed confidence that the upcoming law would address the myriad problems in the education sector and move forward by embracing modern information and technology.
In the program, Technology Committee Chairperson Ammar Bahadur Thapa mentioned that this was the first time in 53 years that the education bill was brought to such a discussion. The interaction included the participation of office-bearers and members of the Provincial Assembly’s subject committee, secretaries, the Ministry of Social Development, the Education Division, the District Coordination Committee, municipalities, the National Association of Rural Municipalities, the Teachers’ Association, the Directorate of Education Development, Education Development and Coordination Units, the Federation of Community School Management Committees, institutional schools, and representatives of early childhood development.
