13 student organizations announce joint protest demanding free education

KATHMANDU: Thirteen student organizations affiliated with various political parties have announced a joint protest, demanding free and equitable education for all.

Stating that education is a natural and constitutional right of Nepali citizens, they vowed to pile pressure on the government to guarantee it. Issuing a joint statement on Monday, they said certain provisions in the School Education Bill will push the education sector toward extreme privatization, putting the public education system in risk. “All this compelled us to launch a movement demanding free and equal education for all,” the statement read.

The student groups also urged all students, teachers, parents and journalists to join their campaign for free and equitable education.

Meanwhile, private school operators staged a bus rally in Kathmandu on Monday, demanding the withdrawal of provisions in the Bill that require schools to operate on a non-profit basis and provide full scholarships.

The School Education Bill, which has already been endorsed by the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee, is currently under consideration in the House of Representatives.