Teachers pushing for government change: Pradip Gyawali

KATHMANDU: CPN-UML Deputy General Secretary Pradip Gyawali said the ongoing teachers’ protest is gradually becoming complicated and politically diverted.

In a Facebook post today, he noted that slogans, expressions, and styles heard on the streets seem more political than educational. Gyawali warned that some teachers appear more interested in demanding the education minister’s resignation or government change rather than focusing on the School Education Bill or their professional demands.

He accused Maoist leaders, who held the education ministry for years after the constitution’s promulgation, of fueling the agitation. Gyawali recalled that the government had previously signed an agreement with teachers on Ashoj 5, 2080 (September 22, 2023), but the registered bill conflicted with the deal, leading to the current tensions.

He stressed that the bill must address two main concerns: safeguarding teachers’ career development from political retaliation by local governments, and ensuring institutional and community school rights as per constitutional provisions.

He criticized the tendency of some protestors to exploit every opportunity to escalate conflict and warned that private schools are the only ones benefiting from prolonged agitation. Gyawali also mentioned that former Education Minister Bidya Bhattarai had advanced a seven-point agreement that was blocked under external pressure, questioning who ultimately benefited from the delay.

Finally, Gyawali urged the government to immediately declare what is possible within legal limits, inform the judiciary, Parliament, and the public transparently, and expedite finalization of the bill. He also pointedly asked former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to direct his own party’s parliamentary leader to help conclude the bill, hinting that the real power lies there.