The Ministry of Education and Sports is right in asking all government school teachers to return to their respective designated areas beginning July 17. Since the teachers had become frequent targets of Maoist insurgency over the years, the MoES was compelled to relocate around 500 teachers on ‘temporary assignments’ to safer destinations like the capital valley or the district headquarters in the last five years. This resulted in an acute shortage of trained staff in the conflict-ridden village schools.

But now, thanks to the 25-point code of conduct between the government and the Maoists that guarantees security for all, time seems opportune for the teachers to resume their duties. However, while directing the teachers to go back, the District Security Committees have to first ensure a safe and secure atmosphere for the gurus to start imparting lessons. It is refreshing to see the political stakeholders at the centre already deliberating over what kind of education policy will be able to meet the needs of a new Nepal. While the Maoist leaders are proposing incorporation of what they term the janabadi shiksha in the education system, they should nonetheless know that education cannot be viewed from an ideological prism alone. Instead of wasting time over impractical ideas seeking cancellation of the present system, the government and the Maoists should try to arrive at a consensus on devising a progressive and visionary education policy that takes care of the present and promises more for the future.