The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the government to promptly resolve the ongoing teachers’ protest through meaningful dialogue, expressing serious concern over its impact on children’s right to education and public life.

Thousands of community school teachers have been staging street protests in Kathmandu for the past two weeks, demanding that the upcoming School Education Act include provisions addressing their long-standing concerns and agreements with previous governments.

Following an on-site observation of the protests, the NHRC issued a press release on Tuesday urging the government to respond to the teachers’ demands without delay. The commission stressed that the situation must be addressed through peaceful negotiation, especially given the sensitivity of the education sector.

“The right to protest peacefully is part of democratic freedoms,” said NHRC spokesperson Tikaram Pokharel. “However, the fact that such protests are necessary to have basic demands heard is deeply concerning, particularly when children’s education is directly affected.”

The NHRC noted that continued disruption could delay the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) results, halt the Grade 12 board examinations, and obstruct new student enrolments. The commission also observed that transport and public movement in the Maitighar-Baneshwar area in Kathmandu have been often disrupted by the protest.

The NHRC urged the government to restart schooling by resolving the issue through dialogue, to consult widely before finalising the School Education Act, and to fulfil past commitments made to teachers. The commission also stressed the importance of updating school-related laws to match the needs of the times and ensure quality education delivery.

Teachers from across Nepal have been in the streets of Kathmandu since April 2, demanding the immediate passage of the long-pending School Education Bill.