Kathmandu. People's Party Students Union, Nepal has announced a valley-wide educational strike in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur on 7th of Push, alleging that the government is not serious about education, justice and freedom. Through a press release issued by the Central Committee, the Union has announced the program of the movement objecting to the current political crisis, increasing economic inequality, commercialization of education and increasing economic and social pressure on students.

In the statement, it is demanded that Nepali students, workers and citizens living abroad should be guaranteed the right to vote in elections, and free education should be implemented up to the secondary level according to the constitution. In addition, the government has been requested to provide a monthly allowance of Rs 5,000 to students up to class 12, transparent distribution of scholarships, free internet for all students and a minimum of Rs 10 lakh through self-government funds for students to study.

The union has put forward a demand that private school fees should be cut by up to 40 percent, school income-expenditure should be made transparent, practical and production-oriented education should be implemented and privatization and commercialization of the education sector should be stopped. Apart from this, the demand to implement student ration card, expansion of technical education and ethical and patriotic education policy is also included.

According to the People's Party Student Union, these 12 points are common demands of Nepali students, parents and civil society. Students, teachers, parents, intellectuals and civil society have been called upon to show support and solidarity from their respective places to make the valley-wide educational strike successful on the 7th of Pusha for the effective implementation of those demands.

President Sunita Budhathoki has signed the statement.