KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has said the government has taken firm steps to free educational institutions and the civil service from partisan political influence.
In a message posted on Facebook on Tuesday, Shah said the long-entrenched culture of “partyization” has weakened the system and eroded public trust. He stressed that merit and competence will now be the sole basis for evaluation and advancement.
“Over the years, access and political affiliation were valued more than ability and performance, which undermined public confidence in the system,” Shah wrote. “Therefore, a clear decision was necessary—party flags in educational institutions and political patronage in the bureaucracy will no longer be tolerated.”
Shah also dismissed claims that the move was due to the inability of the Rastriya Swatantra Party to build its own affiliated organizations. Instead, he said the decision was based on lessons from the past, noting that adding more politically aligned groups has not improved the quality of education.
The prime minister said the government has recently introduced an ordinance aimed at addressing distortions in these sectors, adding that the move would strengthen professional independence.
“Students should learn politics from teachers, not from crowds of political leaders,” he wrote. “We want students to learn values, ideas, and responsibility, and civil servants to follow the rule of law, not political patronage.”
He clarified that the move is not targeted against any particular party but is an effort to steer the country away from partisan control toward institutional governance.
Stating that change comes through decisions, not speeches, Shah said the government’s move reflects public demand. He also assured that appointments, transfers, and promotions will now be based on procedure, competence, and efficiency, and called for support and cooperation from all stakeholders.
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