KATHMANDU, Sept 25: The Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) has intensified monitoring of community school teachers involved in political activities, directing authorities to take action if their involvement violates the law.
The ministry has written to all 77 Education Development and Coordination Units (EDCUs), instructing them to monitor teachers participating in political party programmes and coordinate with local levels on possible action.
The move comes as the Nepali Congress (NC) holds its 15th General Convention. While ward-level conventions have been completed, local-level conventions began on Wednesday. Reports of community school teachers participating in ward-level conventions prompted the ministry to issue the directive.
The Sports and School Education Division issued the directive on September 22. Under Secretary Lilnath Pokhrel said the ministry had received information, including photographs, showing teachers from Baitadi, Baglung, Sindhuli, Sindhupalchok, Mugu, Rautahat and Salyan participating in political party programmes.
“According to information received by the ministry, we have received photographs showing 15 teachers from different districts participating in political party conventions,” Pokhrel told Republica. “Even after the Education Coordination Units wrote to the local levels seeking action, no action was taken. Such activities are contrary to Rule 133(1) (C) of the Education Regulations, 2002.”
He added that the ministry had instructed the concerned authorities to take necessary action under Rule 137(C) and Rule 143 of the Education Regulations if a violation of the code of conduct is established. The action can range from withholding promotion to withholding grade increments.
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According to the directive, the EDCUs will coordinate with local levels on such cases.
According to ministry data for 2081 BS, it received 45 complaints, sought explanations from 43 teachers, while 85 teachers relinquished their political party memberships and 20 resigned from their teaching positions.
Pokhrel said the MoES had directed all 77 EDCUs to step up monitoring of community school teachers participating in political party programmes and take necessary action in accordance with the law.
From social media reports to disciplinary action
According to Pokhrel, information published on social media is also being used as a basis for monitoring, in addition to formal complaints. The ministry has instructed concerned authorities to investigate such reports before taking further action.
“In Baitadi, all 10 local levels in the district have been asked to monitor teachers’ political activities,” Pokhrel told Republica. “Similarly, in Sindhuli, the concerned local levels have been instructed to initiate disciplinary proceedings based on information that some teachers and employees were involved in political activities.”
However, merely appearing at a political party programme is not, by itself, sufficient grounds for disciplinary action. Authorities are also investigating the nature of the activity, the teacher’s role and available legal evidence.
The Nepal Teachers’ Federation (NTF) has also said that community school teachers taking photographs under a party banner at gatherings during the NC ward conventions and posting them on social media goes against the dignity of the teaching profession.
NTF General Secretary Tula Thapa said teachers must comply with the laws, regulations and rules governing the teaching profession.
“The government has stepped up monitoring. As professionals, we must remain cautious about political involvement,” Thapa told Republica. “Teachers must maintain the dignity of their profession. Posting photographs openly on social media of themselves under a party flag goes against the dignity of the teaching profession.”
He added that the federation also urged teachers to stay away from such activities, noting that the government’s approach, regulations and laws are stricter than before.
What is the legal basis?
Political involvement by teachers is not a new issue. The Education Act and Education Regulations have long contained provisions restricting teachers’ political roles and setting standards of professional conduct.
The MoES has previously collected details and sought explanations from teachers over political party membership and involvement in political activities. Its 2081 BS progress report states that it received complaints against 45 teachers, sought explanations from 43 and recorded 85 teachers giving up their political party memberships.
The legal restrictions on teachers’ political involvement are separate from their political views and civil rights as citizens. However, teachers working in community schools are also subject to laws, regulations and professional standards governing their conduct.
When teachers participate in political activities in a manner that may violate those provisions, authorities can investigate based on the nature of their involvement and available legal evidence.
The current monitoring therefore focuses not simply on whether a teacher attended a political programme, but on whether the teacher’s participation and role amounted to a violation of applicable laws and regulations.
