KATHMANDU, April 16: Speaker Devraj Ghimire has stated that addressing the ongoing demands of teachers during the upcoming budget session is not possible, as the session will prioritize budget-related matters.
Speaking with representatives of News Agency Nepal in Jhapa on Wednesday, Ghimire said the government is required to present the national budget by May 28 (Jestha 14) and pass it by mid-July (Asar end), leaving little room to prioritize the School Education Bill.
“The education bill cannot be placed as the first agenda item and resolved before moving to other matters,” Ghimire said, “The budget session is bound by legal deadlines and must remain focused on fiscal matters.”
Speaker urges govt to address teachers' demands
Despite the government calling the budget session for April 25 (Baisakh 12) and inviting teachers to dialogue, the Nepal Teachers' Association has continued its protest. The association claims that the government has failed to create a credible basis for passing the School Education Act.
Ghimire criticized the Association’s refusal to engage in talks, calling it “irresponsible.” He said that while demands can be raised, rejecting dialogue altogether is not reasonable.
Teachers across the country, under the leadership of the Nepal Teachers’ Association, have been staging protests in Kathmandu since April 2 (Chaitra 20), demanding the immediate passage of the School Education Act. After a week of peaceful demonstrations, the teachers began a nationwide academic strike on April 8 (Chaitra 26).
Although two rounds of dialogue have already been held, the Association remains firm that it will not negotiate until the Act is passed.
