House subcommittee submits report on School Education Bill

KATHMANDU: The subcommittee formed under the House of Representatives’ Education, Health and Information Technology Committee to review the School Education Bill clause-by-clause has submitted its report following nearly two months of consultations and deliberations.

The subcommittee, coordinated by CPN-UML lawmaker Chhabilal Bishwakarma, was formed on March 21 with a mandate to complete its work within 35 days. However, the process extended to almost two months due to in-depth discussions with experts, stakeholders, and agitating teachers.

Alongside Bishwakarma, the subcommittee included MPs Dig Bahadur Limbu, Devendra Paudel, Mahendra Kumar Raya, Ram Prakash Chaudhary, Rekha Sharma, Bina Jaiswal, Binita Kumari Singh, and Sarita Bhusal.

The report was formally handed over to the committee’s chairperson Ammar Bahadur Thapa.

The deliberations on the bill took place against the backdrop of a major protest by school teachers, who staged a 29-day-long agitation in Kathmandu starting a week and a half after the formation of the subcommittee.

The protests ended on April 30 following a nine-point agreement between the teachers and the government, leading to the reopening of schools.

In response to the protest, the government had pledged to present and pass the School Education Bill within the current session of Parliament, taking into account the demands raised during the agitation.

The subcommittee also held consultations with other parliamentary committee members, education experts, and representatives of the protesting teachers to incorporate broader perspectives into the bill.

While the report’s submission marks a critical step toward finalizing the bill, questions remain over its financial implications.

Education Minister Raghuji Pant earlier acknowledged that an additional Rs 8 billion would be needed to implement the agreement reached with the teachers. Concerns have also been raised over relief measures, the future of temporary teachers, and the status of school staff.

The full committee will now review the subcommittee’s recommendations before advancing the bill for parliamentary debate and potential passage.