KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 13

The School Education Bill, 2023 has been registered in Parliament.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology registered the Bill with the Parliament Secretariat today after it was passed by the Council of Ministers. The registered Bill will be presented and discussed in the upcoming Parliament meetings.

Earlier, the Cabinet meeting of August 1 had decided to submit the Bill to the Parliament. However, the government did not register it in the Parliament stating that it would proceed with the amendment due to widespread criticism and protest. After making extensive amendments to the draft, the Council of Ministers meeting decided to submit it to the Parliament.

The new Bill registered in the House has incorporated all the amendments demanded by the private sector. The previous bill had a mandatory provision for private schools to merge with the Educational Guthi within five years. However, the new Bill has scrapped this provisions and allowed them to join Guthi voluntarily.

Similarly, other demands of the private sector have also been addressed. However, the Bill has restricted public school teachers from engaging in various activities. According to the proposal, government school teachers will not be able to apply for residence permits in other countries. If it is proved that a teacher has sought such permission, s/he will have to face action.

'Teachers working in public schools shall not apply for permanent residence permit or obtain such permit,' reads section 83 of the Bill.

Furthermore, public school teachers are not allowed to go on strike or participate in any such action. 'Teachers should not take membership of a political party or party-affiliated organisation, participate in political activities, fight election for political positions or ask for votes or donations or be involved in any kind of political activity,' says section 73 of the Bill.

A provision has been included in the Bill that polygamous teachers will also be prosecuted. Teachers will be prosecuted if it is proved that they have committed sexual violence.

'Teachers should not practise polygamy,' the Bill states. 'Teachers should not sexually abuse students and anyone else. Students should not be beaten and no one should be subjected to physical or mental torture.'

Similarly, without the permission of the local level, teachers will not be able to do other works to earn money. If it is proven that a business has been registered, teachers can be punished by the local level. Teachers will not be allowed to teach or do private business outside the school.

The Bill also stipulates that teachers cannot accept donations or gifts from students' parents. Not only teachers but also their family members should not accept donations or gifts.

The Bill prohibits teachers from working as consultants, advisers or experts or in any other profession to receive salary benefits. Likewise, the qualification to be a teacher has been upgraded to at least a Bachelor degree in any subject.

For ordinary teachers of basic level, graduation in any subject is necessary whereas graduation in the relevant subject is required for subject teachers.

A version of this article appears in the print on September 14, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.