bampijhyala.com
Student wings from both ruling and opposition parties have joined forces in opposition to a provision in the school education bill. They are collectively advocating for the mandatory conversion of private schools into trusts, citing concerns about the commercialization of school education.
The bill, presented by the Pushpa Kamal Dahal administration in September, has become a focal point of contention as it lacks a compulsory conversion clause for existing private schools, most of which operate under the Company Act. Student leaders argue that the bill’s voluntary conversion approach contradicts the spirit of the constitution, contending that education should not be treated as a business.
They stress the importance of aligning the education act with constitutional principles. The initial proposal in August mandated the conversion of private schools into trusts within five years, but this provision was removed after facing strong opposition from private school owners. The current bill leaves the decision to convert in the hands of existing schools
Student leaders, representing different political affiliations, assert that maintaining both private and public education systems creates a divide in human resources. They argue for a unified system where private schools are obligated to convert into trusts within a specified timeframe. This aligns with the constitutional emphasis on socialism, promoting equality in educational opportunities and discouraging a two-tiered system.
Government officials, defending the bill, argue that private schools should not be compelled to register as trusts. They emphasize the importance of a three-pillar economic model, where the private sector, including private schools, plays a significant role. The Ministry of Education advocates for increased monitoring of private schools rather than changing their ownership structure.
Student leaders counter this by demanding strong regulation of private schools, along with a legal requirement for government officials to enroll their children in public schools. They also call for allocating a minimum of 20 percent of the national budget to the education sector.
