Vacate schools

We have already welcomed the news of withdrawal of the indefinite strike called by the UCPN (Maoist). The party, however, has vowed to continue with its protests [break] until its demands are met. What this would mean is that public and private properties – including public and private schools and campuses -- that have been forcibly occupied by the Maoist cadres would continue to remain so. While forced occupation of any property is deplorable in itself, we strongly urge the Maoists to vacate the schools that have been used as shelter by its cadres.



Schools are places for learning, not temporary – or in this case, permanent – guesthouses to shelter its cadres.



UCPN (Maoist) should realize that it has been almost two weeks that more than 8000 schools have remained closed and almost one and a half million students in the Kathmandu Valley and elsewhere in the country have been deprived of education because of its misguided policies. First, it shut down schools across the nation and forced students out of the classes in the flimsy pretext of protest against the tuition fee hike – an outright lie to hide its real intentions of using educational institutions to shelter its cadres. Then when it did let the schools open, it was shortly before the beginning of its indefinite strike while keeping its cadres in the schools.



Now even when the strike has been “temporarily” called off, the cadres are still housed in the schools, with no sign of them vacating the premises anytime soon.



Although, the sister organizations of UCPN (Maoist) housing cadres in schools claim that they don’t intend to hamper the regular classes, it’s obvious that when the premises are occupied by unfamiliar revolutionary faces, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to carry out the regular educational activities for both the teachers and the students. Maoists have no right to put the future of one and a half million students in jeopardy. Our children deserve better.



Children have the right to education in a fear-free and peaceful environment. Maoists should respect this right and immediately vacate the school premises. They have to understand that using the educational institutes for their petty party interests not only affects the students, but it also demonstrates Maoists’ uncanny attitude. This goes on to reinforce the belief that the party is irresponsible and would go to any length, whatever the cost, for its own interest. Therefore, the UCPN (Maoist) as the biggest political party needs to act more responsibly and let the regular classes resume in schools. And for this to happen, it has to make its cadres vacate the schools at the earliest.

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