KATHMANDU, Jan 27: The student union affiliated to Madhav Kumar Nepal-led CPN (Unified Socialist) on Friday burnt down the effigy of Education Minister Shishir Khanal.
Leaders of the students’ union on Friday morning gathered in front of Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus and burnt the effigy of Education Minister Khanal alleging that the first decision taken by Education Minister Khanal after assuming office was a curse for the people.
Madhav Nepal’s CPN (Unified Center)’s student union burns effig...
Education Minister Khanal had decided to give the task of printing textbooks from class 1 to class 5 to the private sector for printing. The agitating student leaders alleged that the decision was made to take bribes by allowing the private sector to print textbooks. They also maintained that the decision will force more students to buy books at higher prices.
Speaking to the media after burning the effigy of the education minister, Chairman of the students’ organization Sudesh Parajuli accused Minister Khanal of allowing the private sector to print books instead of removing the irregularities in the state-owned printing facility. He accused the Minister of Education of destroying public education materials instead of saving them.
President Parajuli said that it was a wrong decision in the short time the government was formed and they could not accept it. He said that a cycle has been created by privatizing institutions built with government investment and giving them to brokers. He said that Anil Kumar Jha, the Managing Director of Janak Education Materials Centre Ltd, instead of investigating and taking action and improving the system, has created a commission-eating game by allowing the private sector to print books.
Chairman Parajuli asked the ministers under the leadership of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to withdraw the decision saying that they had taken commissions from the people and destroyed class chemicals. He urged the Janak Education Materials Centre to be strong, empowered and work so that the books reach the children of the poor people on time.
