Kathmandu: Country’s public education system is facing a serious crisis as protests by teachers continue to disrupt academic activities nationwide. Since Chaitra 20, teachers across the country have been agitating over long-standing demands, but with little progress in negotiations, the fallout has already impacted students, examinations, and the new academic session.

On one hand, the rights of students to education are being lost due to the teachers' protests, while on the other, the government’s failure to respond meaningfully has only escalated tensions.

Stalled Education System
As a result of the ongoing protest:

-Admissions for the new academic year have been halted

-Marking of Secondary Education Examination (SEE) papers has stopped

-The Class 12 examination has been postponed by 10 days, with no clear start date in sight

If the situation continues, SEE results could be delayed, and the new academic calendar may face indefinite postponement.

Political Tug-of-War
The government's approach has only added fuel to the fire. Former Education Minister Bidya Bhattarai, known for her stance in favor of teachers, resigned recently, reportedly frustrated by lack of support. Raghuji Pant has replaced her, but his first attempt to mediate the dispute ended in failure.

On Friday afternoon, Minister Pant invited representatives of the Nepal Teachers Federation for a dialogue. However, the teachers refused to enter the ministry, citing that the government unilaterally selected the list of participants, ignoring the federation's internal decisions.

“The federation has not finalized the 25-member list sent by the ministry,” said Federation President Laxmikishore Subedi, adding that they were forced to return from the gates of the ministry.

This misstep has weakened the credibility of the newly appointed minister and raised questions about the government's sincerity in resolving the issue.

A Paralyzed Parliament and Public Anger
As the budget session of the Federal Parliament began today, there was hope among teachers that their issues would be raised. However, no statement or discussion was made, deepening frustrations.

Students and parents are the biggest victims of this deadlock. With public schools at a standstill, many fear an educational collapse that could widen the gap between private and government schools.

A Critical Question
The current impasse raises a vital question for the state:
Should it focus on addressing the teachers' legitimate demands, or take punitive action against their protests?

For now, Education Minister Pant’s first major move has backfired, and the government's attempts to control rather than cooperate with the Teachers Federation are proving costly—not just politically, but for the entire nation’s students.