Nepal bars political party members from school management committees

Nepal has implemented significant changes to its education system by barring political party members from school management committees. The Cabinet approved amendments to the Education Regulations on Friday, transferring substantial authority to local governments.

These revised regulations empower local bodies with the approval of new schools, authorization of additional grades, and the appointment of headteachers. They also introduce a new framework for teacher transfers, aiming to end the long-criticized practice of teachers quickly seeking postings closer to urban centers or their homes. Permanent teachers must now serve at least three years before being eligible for transfer, with transfers subject to an evaluation system based on seniority, qualifications, and training.

Harish Prasad Bhatta, policy and legal adviser to the Education Minister, stated that the amendments are an interim measure to address urgent problems and implement governance reforms while a new Education Act is developed. "The Education Act will take time. We wanted to address immediate issues, implement the government’s governance reform agenda and comply with court orders," Bhatta said.

Education expert Abhishek Ghimire noted that the mandatory service requirement and transparent vacancy publication would improve fairness. However, he criticized the government for amending regulations instead of introducing the promised Education Act, especially given its strong parliamentary majority. The changes also aim to improve transparency by requiring schools to report vacancies and process transfer applications through online platforms or public notices, addressing years of criticism regarding concealed vacancies and political interference in transfers.

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The Education Act will take time. We wanted to address immediate issues, implement the government’s governance reform agenda and comply with court orders. The regulations are an interim measure. Our focus remains on introducing a new Education Act.