Speaker Ghimire Urges Swift Passage of School Education Bill Amid Teachers' Agitation

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Devraj Ghimire, has emphasized that it is the Parliament’s urgent responsibility to pass the School Education Bill, especially in light of ongoing protests by community school teachers across the country.

In a high-level meeting convened on Tuesday with the Chief Whips of various political parties to deliberate on contemporary political and legislative issues, Speaker Ghimire stressed the importance of prioritizing the passage of the Education Bill. “The Parliament has been under mounting pressure to address critical legislative matters, including budget discussions following the government's policies, economic frameworks, and the Fiscal Responsibility Act,” he stated.

The Speaker highlighted that the ongoing agitation by community school teachers, who are demanding the immediate promulgation of the School Education Act, further necessitates urgent action. “The teachers have communicated to me that they will not return to classrooms unless the School Education Bill is enacted,” said Speaker Ghimire. “They have asked me directly to take the necessary initiative.”

To accommodate the increasing legislative workload, which includes pre-budget discussions, the formulation of policies and programmes, and deliberations on the budget and key bills, Speaker Ghimire proposed that the Parliament should convene on all days except Saturdays and public holidays.

The proposal received unanimous approval from the attending political leaders and will now be forwarded to the Business Advisory Committee of Parliament, which is set to meet on April 25.

Speaker Ghimire also provided updates on the legislative process, noting that the Parliament will begin procedures to approve the School Education Bill as soon as the Sub-committee submits its report. He added that the Civil Service Bill is also nearing completion in the concerned committee.

“Taking into account the government's policies and programmes as well as the technical constraints posed by the budget timeline, the Parliament must be prepared to endorse crucial bills, including the School Education Bill and the Civil Service Bill, during this ongoing session,” he emphasized.

The swift passage of these bills is considered vital not only to address the demands of educators but also to ensure the timely execution of national policies and the annual budgetary framework.