Teachers' Protest: Voices from the Eco-Chamber of the House of Representatives

Teachers of community schools from across the country have been staging a protest in Kathmandu as part of their latest effort to press for the enactment of a long-pending School Education Bill through the incorporation of their demands mentioned in agreements reached with successive governments. 

How have our lawmakers across the political spectrum dealt with this protest and its impact on the academic sector, and beyond, in the House of Representatives? Let’s have a look. 

Pratiksha Tiwari (CPN-UML), April 28: The disruption in teaching-learning activities has affected the students psychologically. This has obstructed the 
marking of Secondary Education Examinations (SEE) papers, cauesd delays in the conduct of grade XII examinations and a halt in teaching-learning activities at the school. Who will take responsibility for the psychological impact of all this on students?

Dilendra Prasad Badu (Nepali Congress): Instead of using force against protesting teachers, the government should focus on meeting their demands.

Surya Thapa (CPN-UML): Protesting teachers should exercise restraint.  The current situation has arisen because successive governments have not bothered to implement the agreements reached with the teachers.

Roshan Karki (Rastriya Prajatantra Party): I stand in protest against the suppression of the teachers’ protest. The government should create a conducive environment for the teachers to return to their respective schools.   
Devendra Dahal, CPN (Maoist Center): The government should have given due respect to the teachers, it has chosen to suppress their protest instead. I stand in protest against this. The School Education Bill won’t take long if the government is indeed serious about it. The government should create a conducive environment for all this.  

Janardan Sharma, deputy general secretary, CPN (Maoist Center): The past three governments are to blame for the non-fulfillment of the teachers’ demands. This problem has arisen because successive governments have not bothered to implement agreements they reached with the teachers.

Sumana Shrestha (Rastriya Swatantra Party): The suppression of the teachers’ protest…. It gives an impression that the state is heading toward autocracy.

Is the government not committing excesses on the strength of a majority?