Minister for Education, Science and Technology Bidya Bhattarai resigned on Monday in the midst of weeks-long protests by community school teachers demanding passage of the School Education Bill.

According to a member of the prime minister’s secretariat, Bhattarai submitted her resignation to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at his residence in Baluwatar.

Thousands of teachers have been staging rallies in Kathmandu since April 2, calling for the new education law to address their longstanding demands, including job security and recognition of past agreements with previous governments.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Oli, addressing a teachers’ union convention in Kirtipur, urged protesters to return to classrooms, stating that the government was ready to address financially and practically viable demands.

“The draft bill is under parliamentary review. There is no need for protests in the streets,” Oli said. “This is harming students and parents.”

Earlier in the day, Bhattarai held discussions with the prime minister regarding the ongoing agitation before tendering her resignation.