Kathmandu, August 22

A parliamentary committee has turned over the report on the School Education Bill to the Lower House of the Federal Parliament, following a lengthy row and a stir. Ammar Bahadur Thapa, chair of the Education, Science and Technology Committee, presented the bill report to the Lower House of the Federal Parliament today.

Thapa presented the report, claiming that holding formal and informal discussions with all stakeholders improved the bill. The bill was passed by the committee during its meeting yesterday. The opposition parties – CPN-Maoist Centre, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party – had differing perspectives on the bill passed by the committee.

However, Committee Chair Thapa expressed his confidence that the Act, which is about to be amended after a long time, will result in significant improvements in the field of school education. 'Since the bill is being put forth after 54 years to repeal the Education Act, 1971, efforts have been made to bring innovation to school education,' Thapa stated.

He stated that the previous bill had 163 clauses. However, after the committee discussed and approved it, the bill now has 173 clauses. A total of 13 new clauses have been added, while three have been removed. Thapa stated that the bill was passed by the committee following consultation with all stakeholders.

However, it is evident that the debate over the bill is not finished, with the CPN-MC expressing differing views in the committee on the provision relating to private school scholarships and the RSP emphasising the provision of full scholarships, including accommodations.

On top of that, on the same day the bill was introduced in the Parliament, the Confederation of Nepalese Teachers announced a protest programme to express its dissatisfaction with the bill. Private schools have already taken to the streets.

According to CNT President Laxmi Kishor Subedi, the upcoming protest will be tougher and more powerful than previous ones. Teachers had previously protested for nearly a month, beginning on March 28.

The CNT has warned that in the first phase beginning August 25, it will inform the local governments, political parties, Minister of Education, and the prime minister about its demands in order to draw their attention, and that if the demands are not met, it will launch a prohibitory and decisive movement starting on September 6.

PABSON, N-PABSON, HISAN and APEN have also begun to protest, expressing dissatisfaction with the bill. They launched the demonstration on August 21. PABSON, N-PABSON, HISAN and APEN have all expressed opposition to the bill's provision to make private schools not-for-forprofit and provide 10-15 per cent full scholarships. In protest, they halted school buses at Maitighar Mandala yesterday and the Ring Road today.

They have demanded that the provision requiring schools registered under the Companies Act to be non-profit be removed, that scholarships cover uniforms, stationery, and lunch, and that the local level be given the authority to grant school scholarships. Private school operators are preparing to launch a decisive protest from August 24 if their demands are not met.

The committee agreed on a proposal in the bill to gradually convert private schools to non-profit status and provide housing for 2.5 per cent of all students. Stakeholders have protested since the bill was passed from the committee. The bill will now be submitted to the National Assembly through the House of Representatives.