Education minister urges teachers to refrain from joining political parties

KATHMANDU: Minister for Education, Science and Technology Sumana Shrestha has urged teachers, professors and employees involved in teaching and learning activities not to obtain membership of any political party. Reminding them of the existing legal provision that prohibits teaching personnel from taking party memberships, Shrestha has stated that teachers, professors and employees should keep the education sector free from partisan politics.

In a message posted on her social media page on Sunday, Shrestha also called on the concerned authorities to take action against teachers, professors and employees who have obtained political party membership.

Citing the legal provisions in the Education Act, 1971, and the Political Parties Act, 2017, she has also expressed the ministry’s commitment to strictly implement the provision.

“I want to call upon everyone that the law clearly states that professors and teachers will be removed from their positions if they obtain political membership. This provision now needs to be implemented,” she has written. “When teachers get affiliated with the political sector, they play with the future of students. Therefore, no teacher, professor or employee should obtain membership of any political party or sit in any committee of a political party,” Minister Shrestha has said. “The education sector now must be free from partisan politics.”

She has urged all concerned to file complaints with evidence at relevant authorities if government or community institution teachers, professors and employees have obtained political party membership.