Supreme Court Issues Show-Cause Order Over Disparity Between Public and Private School Education Systems

Kathmandu. The Supreme Court has issued a show-cause order in response to a writ petition arguing that the existing differences in curriculum, teaching materials, and medium of instruction between government and private schools are creating discrimination among students.

A single bench of Justice Balkrishna Dhakal issued the show-cause order in the name of the government on the writ filed by advocate Kumar Prasad Thapaliya.

The writ filed by Thapaliya demands that the current 'dual education system' in Nepal be declared unconstitutional and that equal and quality education be implemented nationwide. The petition states that there is widespread inequality in teaching and learning because private schools use English medium and advanced teaching materials, while government schools use Nepali medium and comparatively weaker materials. It claims that this widens the educational gap between the children of the rich and the poor, depriving the children of the poor of competitive education.

Furthermore, the writ demands the implementation of a uniform, quality, and competitive curriculum and teaching materials in all schools. It also seeks a mandamus order to implement an integrated education system, including English medium, in government schools within a specified timeframe.