Raghuji Pant, a CPN-UML lawmaker, steps into the Ministry of Education as the minister at a time when the education sector is in disarray. His appointment, after his predecessor Bidya Bhattarai’s departure on "health grounds", is not an ordinary administrative reshuffle but an important step towards resolving critical issues facing the country. Bhattarai walked away amid the ongoing teachers' protest that has dragged on for more than three weeks, halting admissions, exams, and answer sheet evaluations. A former journalist, Pant, known for his assertiveness in politics and media, is now in the hot seat, stepping in to take charge of the pretty much beleaguered education sector. He has no luxury of a wait-and-see approach, as he has a packed agenda: pacify protesting teachers, collaborate with lawmakers on the long-delayed Education Bill, and put schools on the right track. He will certainly have a tough time addressing the issue of school dropouts and the emptying of classrooms. These are issues that cannot be brushed aside or plainly passed on to bureaucrats to resolve them. They must be addressed with speed and political finesse.
The teachers' protest must be addressed at the earliest. The newly appointed minister may bear in mind that the teachers are asking for passing the law, the first big step in the direction of resolving the problem since signing the first agreement back in 2018. Enactment of legislation should address all legitimate demands of the teachers, including their concerns for job security, inclusion of their voice in policy, and clear career paths. The incumbent Minister is expected to listen to their demands, respond to them candidly and restore confidence between the agitating teachers and the government. The longer the standoff continues, the heavier the price the education sector and students will have to pay. The School Education Bill, under the review of a House sub-committee, cannot be delayed any further. Some of the most vexing issues are where acceleration of decisions would do wonders. If Pant can bring different ministers on board and persuade legislators to put party lines aside for the benefit of education, he will without doubt be able to break the current deadlock. He should make honest and meaningful efforts. On another front, Pant must act fast to restore the postponed Grade 12 exams to the calendar. Students, already hit hard by years of disruption due to COVID-19 and administrative unpredictability, must not be the subject of further uncertainty and confusion regarding their exams and classes.
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But repairing the evident cracks in the sector alone will not be enough, as the newly appointed minister will have to address stagnant curricula, shortages of staff in schools, and crumbling infrastructure. There is no dearth of reports pointing to these anomalies. The onus also lies on the agitating teachers. They cannot stick to their demands stubbornly. Negotiation is not a zero-sum game and the agitating side must unconditionally respect the spirit of the constitution. It is their constitutional duty to come under the jurisdiction of the local levels. The state invests huge amounts of money in the education sector, a big chunk of that goes to community schools. Sadly, the performance of students does not justify that. It is because the teachers are not carrying out their duties responsibly. They have to perform their duty as teachers to the best of their abilities, bearing in mind that the students they produce will be in the driving seat 10 or 20 years down the road. Teachers, parents, and students have to work in tandem in building a healthy and fruitful teaching-learning ecosystem. Teachers have no business holding school and the student to ransom to pile pressure on the government to fulfill their demands. They must cooperate with the new Minister as he takes up fresh initiatives to resolve the longstanding crisis. The deadlock must end.
