Teachers across the country rallied in Kathmandu on Saturday, calling on the government to expedite the passage of the long-pending School Education Bill. Organised by the Nepal Teachers’ Federation, the protest saw a significant turnout, with teachers marching from Maitighar to Baneshwar to demand immediate action on the bill.

Laxmi Kishore Subedi, president of the Federation, explained that the demonstration was aimed at pressuring the government to address past agreements and pass the bill, which he argued is critical for the protection of teachers’ rights.

He stressed that the School Education Bill is necessary to ensure that the education system is governed effectively across all levels of government, with a fair distribution of responsibilities.

The protest follows a series of actions by the Federation, which included submitting memorandums and holding regional protests. Subedi said that following the Kathmandu rally, the Federation plans to hold sit-ins at political party offices to further push for the bill’s approval.

The school education bill has been stalled in the Education, Health, and Science Technology Committee of the House of Representatives for over 18 months, despite some initial discussions. The delay has sparked frustration among teachers, who argue that the bill is essential for the proper functioning of the education system.

However, Education Minister Bidya Bhattarai reiterated that the passage of the bill remains her top priority, with the ongoing winter parliamentary session offering a final chance for approval. The Federation has warned that if the bill is not passed soon, they will intensify their protests in Kathmandu.

The Federation, which led a Kathmandu-centric agitation, had halted the protest after sealing a six-point deal with the government in September 2023.

The federation, an elected umbrella body of various teachers’ unions, withdrew the protests and the teachers agreed to return to work after the government made a written commitment to incorporate their concerns by revising the bill.

Here are the photos by the Post's photojournalist Deepak KC.