KATHMANDU, April 17: In an effort to keep politics out of the education sector, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Sumana Shrestha and Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya held discussions in Singha Durbar on Tuesday. 

The two discussed initiating action against teachers, university professors and the employees affiliated to political parties.

On the occasion, Minister Shrestha and Chief Election Commissioner Thapaliya discussed implementing the laws that prohibit teachers from being involved in politics. Minister Shrestha took this initiative after receiving complaints of teachers taking the membership of political parties and being engaged in active politics.

Minister Shrestha sought the Election Commission's cooperation in identifying the teachers involved in politics.

"We have reached a kind of general understanding on removing party politics from the education sector. Currently we are discussing how to keep the education sector free from political interference and the ministry expects the Election Commission to provide the details required to collect evidence," Minister Shrestha said.

During the discussion, CEC Thapaliya said that there was no problem initiating action against the party-affiliated teachers and employees under the existing laws. The precedents set by the courts in the past and the international practices as well suggest keeping education away from politics.

According to Minister Shrestha's Secretariat, the Chief Election Commissioner mentioned that the commission has taken decisions in this regard in the past but was not able to implement it. Thapaliya said that the EC is ready to extend full support to the ministry to enforce the laws.

 
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