Ei-iE

Education unions in Nepal are calling on the government to significantly increase public investment in education and strengthen social dialogue to ensure quality education for all.

Following a three-day national workshop on “Shaping Education Financing in Nepal”, four Education International (EI) member organisations - Nepal Teachers’ Association (NTA), Nepal National Teachers’ Organization (NNTA), Institutional School Teachers’ Union (ISTU) and Nepal School Employees’ Council (NSEC) - have issued a joint appeal for urgent and sustained action.

“Public education is the foundation of an equitable and sustainable society. Investing in education means investing in the future of Nepal,” the unions stated jointly.

The workshop brought together union leaders, education practitioners, civil society partners, and representatives from Action Aid International Nepal, the National Campaign for Education Nepal and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Nepal to align national advocacy efforts with global commitments, including Sustainable Development Goal 4. Participants emphasised that achieving quality education requires adequate financing, strong public systems, and a well-supported teaching workforce.

Welcoming the formation of the new government following recent parliamentary elections, the unions expressed their readiness to engage constructively in addressing the long-standing challenges facing Nepal’s education sector.

Participating in the event, EI Regional Director Anand Singh said: “Teachers are at the heart of education transformation. Without decent working conditions, professional respect, and meaningful social dialogue, quality education cannot be achieved.”

The unions highlighted persistent concerns around underinvestment, unregulated privatization, and the working conditions of teachers and education workers. They stressed the need for policies to strengthen progressive tax system and reduce corporate tax evasion that ensure increased public funding for education.

“Public education is the foundation of an equitable and sustainable society. Investing in education is investing in the future of Nepal,” said NTA’s Somnath Giri.

Central to their call is the demand for the Government of Nepal to meet international benchmarks by allocating at least 20% of the national budget or 6% of GDP to education. “Social dialogue is not optional: it is essential for building trust, strengthening education systems, and delivering sustainable reforms,” the unions emphasized.

“Social dialogue is essential for building trust, strengthening education systems, and delivering sustainable reforms,” emphasized NSEC’s Ganga Ram Tiwari.

“Teachers are at the heart of education transformation. Without decent working conditions, professional respect, and meaningful social dialogue, quality education cannot be achieved,” noted NNTA’s Hans Bahadur Shahi.

The unions reaffirmed their commitment to working collaboratively with EI and partners to advance free, compulsory, and quality public education, promote gender equality, and uphold the rights and dignity of all education workers. These aims are at the core of the EI Go Public! Fund Education campaign.