The Ministry of Education and Sports is set to take action against teachers involved in political activities.
Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel has directed authorities to take action against teachers involved in any political activities after reports of teachers participating in political activities surfaced on social media.
He has also instructed authorities to monitor teachers’ involvement in political activities at schools across the country.
Meanwhile, the Education Development and Coordination Unit in Baitadi has directed local governments to monitor the participation of teachers working at schools in the district in events organized by political parties.
In a letter sent to all 10 local governments in the district, the unit said that it had found, based on news reports and information published on social media, that teachers from some schools had participated in events organized by various political parties.
The letter requested local governments to closely monitor whether teachers working at schools under their jurisdiction were participating in events of political parties.
The unit also urged local governments to take necessary action in accordance with existing law if any teacher was found engaging in activities contrary to the teacher code of conduct and standards prescribed by the prevailing Education Act and Education Regulations, as well as recent directives issued by the government.
The directive was issued in a letter signed by Dasharath Datta Bhatta, head of the Education Development and Coordination Unit in Baitadi. A copy of the letter has also been forwarded to the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Meanwhile, the Education Development and Coordination Unit in Sindhuli has directed the local governments concerned to take action if teachers and staff working at community schools in the district are found to be actively participating in events of political parties.
The unit sent letters to Dudhauli Municipality, Sunkoshi Rural Municipality, and Tinpatan Rural Municipality, saying it had received information through social media and other sources that teachers and staff had participated in political party events.
A letter issued by the unit chief, Under Secretary Dinesh Prasad Devkota, stated that, based on material published on social media, four teachers and staff members appeared to have been involved in political activities. The letter named Prem Prasad Bhattarai, Sarveshwar Koirala, Arjun Kumar Gautam, and Yatiraj Timalsina.
The letter stated that such activities were contrary to provisions of the Education Regulations, 2002 (including the 10th amendment), and asked the local governments concerned to take necessary action against the teachers and staff in accordance with prevailing law.
The local governments were also asked to inform the Education Development and Coordination Unit immediately about any action taken. The Education Department under the Ministry of Education and Sports was also forwarded a copy of the letter.
