KATHMANDU, April 21: Minister for Education, Science and Technology Bidya Bhattarai on Monday resigned after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli reportedly adopted a tougher line against the ongoing teachers' protest.
Laxmi Kishor Subedi, president of the Nepal Teachers' Federation (NTF), said he was surprised by Bhattarai’s resignation, noting she had been supportive of their movement and had shown no signs of stepping down during recent discussions.
Bhattarai had prepared a seven-point agreement framework to address teachers' concerns, but the NTF insisted on assurances from the prime minister and finance ministry for its implementation.
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Prime Minister Oli, however, made it clear that the government would move ahead with introducing the Education Act regardless of protests, instructing teachers to return to work and criticizing the refusal to engage in formal talks during the protest.
Bhattarai, a professor, had earlier vowed to resign if she failed to pass the Education Act. As the protest escalated and the prime minister hardened his stance, Bhattarai decided to step down, staying true to her commitment, according to sources close to her.
Sources said Minister Bhattarai was dissatisfied with both Prime Minister Oli and Speaker Devraj Ghimire. She had concluded that she lacked the support needed from PM Oli regarding the demands of protesting teachers.
In a recent interview with Himalaya Television, Bhattarai hinted at the possibility of resigning. Bhattarai also held discussions with Speaker Ghimire, but he firmly stated that the teachers' demands could not be addressed in this parliamentary session.
Prime Minister Oli, meanwhile, remained unresponsive to the teachers' demands, repeatedly instructing them to "return to school" and emphasizing that not all their demands could be met.
Caught between pressure from the teachers and the unwavering stance of both the Prime Minister and the Speaker, Bhattarai ultimately chose to resign.
