Education bill draws flak for no per-consultation with stakeholders

Kathmandu / Aug 8 : Stakeholders have expressed their discontent on the proposed arrangements regarding private schools in the bill that the government is set to present at the federal parliament to mend and integrate school education.

Organizing a joint press conference today, the organizations related to the private school operators have demanded amendment to the draft bill acknowledging their right to private property.

Speakers expressed displeasure over some of the provisions of the bill in the press conference jointly organized by Private and Boarding Schools’ Organization Nepal (PABSON), National Private and Boarding Schools’ Association Nepal (NPABSON) and Higher Institutions and Secondary Schools Association (HISSAN).

They said the provisions of the draft bill were prejudiced, anti-constitutional, impractical and injudicious.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on August 1 had decided to endorse the bill and table it at the parliament.

The organizations have shown their grave concern on the provisions of the bill, including transformation of the schools with private investment into the educational trustees (guthi) within five years.

In the press release jointly issued by PABSON Chairperson DK Dhungana, N-PANSON Chairperson Pandab Hamal and HISSAN Chairperson Ramesh Silwal, they would resort to run protest programmes, including submitting memorandum to the local government units, district administration office, education development and coordination unit and province ministries; stage demonstration against the draft bill and hold interaction/discussion with stakeholders if their demands were not heeded.

The organizations have warned to launch further stern actions of protest if the government did not pay attention to their demands. (RSS)