Lawmakers Decry Campus Lockdowns and Political Influence in Education

Lawmaker Dr. Swarnim Wagle has expressed deep concern over the growing politicization of educational institutions, stating that it is regrettable to see students, who should serve as the “lamp of consciousness,” being used as political pawns in campus lockdowns.

Speaking during the ‘special time’ in today’s session of the House of Representatives, Wagle condemned the ongoing closures of over 1,000 campuses across Nepal in the lead-up to the Free Students Union (FSU) elections under Tribhuvan University. He criticized the presence of factional politics within student unions, describing it as a disgraceful exploitation of academic spaces by political parties.

“It is shameful that political interests are being manifested in the form of disruptive activities in educational institutions,” he stated. He also raised concerns about the declining quality of Budhanilkantha School, where he himself studied, emphasizing the need for systemic reforms to elevate the standards of all public schools to match international benchmarks.

Wagle stressed the necessity of redefining the structure and role of Free Students Unions, asserting that campuses should not be turned into political battlegrounds.

Similarly, lawmaker Gyan Bahadur Shahi highlighted the instability in Nepal’s governance, pointing out that the country has seen 14 different governments in the past 16 years. He criticized leaders who frequently speak about improving public education while sending their own children to schools in the United States and Europe.

On another note, Shahi reiterated the call for a directly elected Prime Minister to ensure a more stable and effective government. He also raised the longstanding issue of finding those responsible for the death of former CPN (UML) leader Madan Bhandari in a mysterious road accident in Dasdhunga, Chitwan, in 1993. He questioned why successive governments, including those led by leaders who once vowed to uncover the truth, have failed to deliver justice.

Lawmaker Prem Bahadur Ale, meanwhile, voiced frustration over delays in the construction of the Doti section of the Seti Highway. He accused the Ministry of Forests and Environment of obstructing progress, which in turn has weakened the performance of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. Ale demanded the full implementation of the Council of Ministers’ decision from November 21 last year regarding the highway project.