Ensure students' right to education, NHRC urges govt

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 22: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent a letter to the government, urging it to ensure students' right to education. This follows a complaint by the Parents' Association Nepal, which drew the Commission’s attention to violations of educational rights due to delays in addressing the demands of the Nepal Teachers’ Federation.

In a press statement issued Monday, the NHRC stated that the Guardians’ Association Nepal expressed concern that, although the new academic session has already begun and the Class 12 examination schedule has been published, the evaluation of the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) answer sheets has not started yet. As a result, nearly 5.5 million students in community schools have been deprived of their right to education because Nepal Teachers’ Federation demands remain unaddressed.

The Commission urged the government to uphold the fundamental rights of children as guaranteed by Articles 31 and 39 of the Constitution of Nepal. It called on the government to implement past agreements reached with the agitating teachers' association and to create a conducive environment to smoothly conduct the Class 12 examination.

The NHRC also called on both the Nepal Teachers’ Federation and the government to avoid obstructing students' right to education and to resolve the ongoing issues through dialogue.