KATHMANDU, JUNE 18

The government and major political parties had agreed to pass 'the School Education Bill, 2025' during the current session of the House of Representatives by June 29, along with representatives from the protesting Confederation of Nepalese Teachers (CNT).

However, it appears that the ruling parties and the current education minister have failed to keep their promises to protesting teachers. At least that is what the Lower House of the Federal Parliament's calendar indicates.

On April 30, Nepali Congress Chief Whip Shyam Kumar Ghimire, CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula, and the Chairperson of the Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee under the House of Representatives, Ammar Bahadur Thapa, pledged to make every effort at their respective levels to pass the bill by June 29 of the current session.

However, it appears that they have failed to keep their commitment. The Federal Parliament Secretariat's agenda for June 28 makes no mention of presenting the Education Bill in the House. Despite the government's agreement to pass the Education Bill by June 29, it does not appear on the calendar until June 28.

The House of Representatives has set its first fortnightly calendar for the month of June. According to the calendar, 11 meetings will be held until June 28.

According to the calendar, the meeting will continue until June 24 and then on June 28. However, due to obstruction in the House by Rastriya Swatantra Party legislators, the meeting did not take place today as scheduled. According to the calendar, there will be a question-and answer-session with the prime minister on June 20, as well as meetings on Saturdays (June 21 and 28).

Talking to The Himalayan Times, Ek Ram Giri, Spokesperson for the Lower House of the Federal Parliament, said, 'The report on the Education Bill has not been kept on schedule because it is still being discussed in the Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee. However, if the Committee sends the Bill to the House, it could be presented at any time.'

According to him, the Education Bill was not kept on the agenda due to uncertainty. However, it will be presented to the House on any day scheduled.

'We explicitly stated in the calendar notes that a bill or issue of importance could be introduced during any scheduled meeting,' he added. 'The second point on the issued calendar emphasises the same point.'