Lawmakers, stakeholders stress on meaningful participation of guardians

Lawmakers and stakeholders have stressed that the School Education Bill-2080 should ensure meaningful participation of guardians in the school management committee.

At an interaction ‘Guardians in Education Act’ organised on the occasion of the 10th establishment day of the Community School Management Committee Federation of Nepal here today, the role of guardians in school management was highlighted.

On the occasion, Nepali Congress General Secretary and lawmaker Gagan Kumar Thapa pointed out the need for the participation of guardians while drafting this act.

“Guardians have not been included in school education bill-related discussions. There should be collaboration with guardians”, he shared, adding community should be united for the reform of community schools.

Similarly, Secretary of the CPN (UML) and lawmaker Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai, said the school education bill is going to be formulated since long and it should be discussed by all.

It was necessary to increase the state’s investment and guardianship in education, he underlined.

Likewise, former Education Minister and lawmaker of the CPN (Maoist Centre), Devendra Poudel mentioned that there would be no improvement of any sector until there is improvement in school education.

“There will be no development until education sector becomes systematic. Teacher’s commitment, activeness and hard work is necessary for the school reforms. Teacher should focus their attention on it. Guardians should also pay attention on it”, he stressed.

Chairperson of the National Examinations Board, Dr Mahashram Sharma shared that there is a problem with how to identify real guardians and fake guardians.

He underscored, “It should be identified how much means and resources schools have at local levels and how much the federal government will provide while making this act. An illiterate person can sit on the school management committee and give his/her opinion. Real guardians should participate in the decision process of school management.”

Educationist Prof Kedar Bhakta Mathema stressed that the management committee should have ownership of school reform, stating that there should be unity among committee members.

There should be collaboration and trust among guardians, schools and teachers for the reform of the schools, added Prof Dr Peshal Khanal.

Federation Chairperson Gunaraj Muktan emphasized that the bill should pay attention to the meaningful participation of Guardians as the meaningful participation of real guardians was mandatory for the improvement of the school.