Kathmandu, August 20

While government school teachers plan to launch a new round of protests, the private sector has also threatened to protest, stating five major demands and demonstration plans.

Since yesterday, the Confederation of Nepalese Teachers (CNT) has been holding meetings here to discuss their protest and strategies.

'We are still finalising our demonstration plans and decisions and will announce our protest and strategy tomorrow,' Nanu Maya Parajuli, vice-chair of the CNT, told THT. 'The (education) bill in its current form includes some of the issues raised by CNT in the last protest, while some are still missing.'

Nevertheless, she was optimistic that the bill will be presented in both Houses. 'I see opportunities for amendments and corrections. More details will be publicised following tomorrow's meeting.'

The School Education Bill 2025 is currently in the final stages of discussion in the Education, Health and Technology Committee of Parliament. The bill is scheduled to be endorsed by the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee of the House of Representatives on August 21.

Meanwhile, the Private and Boarding Schools' Organisation Nepal (PABSON) and National-PABSON issued a statement today, expressing their displeasure with specific provisions of the School Education Bill.

They have argued that, while it is plausible for private educational institutions, which account for approximately 34 per cent of the country's school education, to be optimistic, the proposed bill contains potentially impractical and unfair provisions that apply to private educational institutions.

PABSON and N-PABSON have also stated that they have consistently submitted formal letters of attention and memorandums to the government of Nepal, the Ministry of Education, the relevant committees of the Federal Parliament, and major political parties, requesting the repeal and amendment of such provisions.

They have demanded the passage of a practical, fair and inclusive education act that favours the private sector.

PABSON President Krishna Prasad Adhikari and N-PABSON President Subhash Neupane released a joint statement announcing the protest.

'We do not seek confrontation with the state, but rather dialogue and cooperation. However, if there is an attempt to undermine our professional existence and educational contribution, we will be forced to consider all available options for struggle,' they stated in the statement.

Furthermore, the two organisations have planned a different type of protest until August 24. For example, on August 21, from 11:00am to 1:00pm, all school principals will gather in Maitighar Mandala and march with banners to New Baneshwor Chowk before returning to Maitighar Mandala for a corner meeting.

On August 22, at 11:00am, school buses from across the country will disembark at the closest school and circle the city. School buses will carry black flags and banners as ply along Kathmandu valley's 27-kilometre ring road. They will gather at Maitighar Mandala at 1:00pm to encircle the Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee, as well as the Federal Parliament. Finally, they have decided to take decisive action on August 24.

Demands of PABSON and N-PABSON

• * The term 'full scholarship' should be removed.
• * Provision for providing materials that are not produced in schools, such as uniforms, stationery, educational materials and food (lunch/snacks) should be eliminated).
• * The provision requiring schools registered and operating under the Companies Act to be 'not-for-profit' should be removed.
• * The right to distribute scholarships should remain with the school in question, and a transparent committee composed of municipal representatives should be formed to do so.
• * The discriminatory provision under Section 3(a) of the Scholarship Act, 2021, Rule 10(a) of the Regulations, 2003, regarding the 45 per cent reservation scholarship provision, and the discriminatory provision under the Amendment Act of 2020, which states that only those who attended community schools from grades VI to X can study in higher education through the CTEVT programme, should be repealed.

In her Facebook Live stream, she stated that PABSON and N-PABSON have announced the protest, as have government sector teachers, but what about students?

'Students up to Grade XII are solely concerned with their education, whereas teachers are divided and affiliated with political parties. Moreover, they often echo their demands with their Parliamentarians in the Houses,' she said in her Facebook Live stream.

'However, helpless students who have no affinity and affiliation to political parties are often victimised due to the politicisation of the school education system.'

On the other hand, student organisations in graduation and post-graduation streams become involved with political parties' sister organisations.

'But, due to school strikes by the government and now the private sector, teachers are having a significant impact on students,' she added. 'Because students up to XII are barely eligible to cast votes or even join political organisations, or united by any group, it's our duty to represent students.'

The irony is that the state is extremely helpless due to the influence of the organisations organising protests and hampering students' fundamental rights, as per lawmaker Shrestha.