Education Minister Sumana Shrestha Marked 100 Days with New Protections for Private School Teachers and Advocates for Depoliticization in Education

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EDUCAST, Education, Science and Technology Minister Sumana Shrestha has announced significant steps aimed at enhancing the professional safety of private school employees and teachers. In a media briefing held on Tuesday, marking her 100th day in office, Minister Shrestha detailed the issuance of a circular designed to enforce the legal framework protecting private school staff. This initiative is being coordinated with the Ministry of Labour to ensure its effective implementation.

Minister Shrestha highlighted ongoing issues faced by private school teachers, noting that numerous complaints have been received regarding the lack of appointment letters and job security. She acknowledged that private school teachers have repeatedly approached her with these concerns. In response, the ministry has issued a circular to address these issues and is actively working with the Ministry of Labour to ensure compliance and support for affected teachers.

During the press conference, Minister Shrestha also released a progress report detailing the achievements of her first 100 days in office. Key accomplishments include the issuance of guidelines for teacher transfers, the initiation of inter-district transfers, and the submission of the Education Regulations (Tenth Amendment), 2059 to the Ministry of Law for review. Additionally, a study has commenced to align teaching positions, and comprehensive reforms of the Ministry’s policies and procedures are underway.

A significant part of Minister Shrestha’s agenda is the depoliticization of the education sector. She firmly stated her commitment to eliminating political party influence within educational institutions. “I will stop party politicization in education,” Minister Shrestha declared, emphasizing that teachers will no longer be permitted to join or engage in political party activities. She stressed that the objective is to create an impartial educational environment, free from political interference, and vowed to pursue this goal relentlessly.

Minister Shrestha acknowledged that the progress made in reducing political influence in education has been limited, but she remains optimistic. She underscored the necessity of collective effort, stating that the realization of this agenda requires the cooperation of all stakeholders, including the government, educators, and the public.