School Education Bill misses alignment with Constitution: lawmakers

Lawmakers have stressed the need to ensure a quality, accessible and inclusive education system.

Deliberating their views over the 'School Education Bill, 2080 BS', in a meeting of the House of Representatives on Friday, the lower house members demanded the government implement the agreements reached with teachers who were agitated with the registration of the Bill in the parliament.

Lawmaker Madhav Sapkota said though the constitution has guaranteed the right to education as a fundamental right of the citizens, the Bill has failed to reflect its approach while treating private education. "The way ahead won't be clear in the absence of the management of private education and an address to the commercialisation of education."

He advised the government to be serious about the demands of the teachers appointed on relief quota, private resources, those entitled for contribution-based pension and the child development teachers.

Likewise, parliamentarian Naryani Sharma pressed an idea of implementing a progressive educational policy while calling for taking the Bill ahead with a practical and scientific approach.

She was of the opinion that teachers should feel that their concerns are addressed through the Bill.

Lawmaker Sishir Khanal said the government is not clear about the essence of the Bill, adding it has failed to serve the education policy of ensuring quality and widely accessible education.

Pradip Poudel said the Bill has failed to reflect that education is the fundamental right of the citizens.

Likewise, Ashok Kumar Chaudhary, Sita Mijar, Dr Swarnim Wagle, Rajendra KC, Chhiring Damdul Lama Bhote, Jabeda Khatun Jaga, Prakash Adhikari, Raju Thapa, Menaka Kumari Pokhrel, Sarita Bhusal, Bijula Rayamajhi, Harkamaya Bishwakarma, Ram Shanker Yadav, and Manish were among those assessing that the Bill failed to come in line with the spirit of the Constitution and it was in need of revision to ensure the access of all to education.