The House of Representatives passed the new Education Reform Bill on Tuesday after three consecutive days of intense debate. The bill aims to restructure the national education framework, introducing standardized testing and revised curricula across all provinces.

Opposition lawmakers staged a walkout during the final vote, arguing that the bill undermines provincial autonomy in education matters. Despite their absence, the ruling coalition secured enough votes to pass the legislation with a comfortable majority.

Education Minister Dr. Prakash Thapa defended the bill, stating it would bring much-needed uniformity to the education system. He emphasized that the reforms would improve learning outcomes for over five million students across the country.

Civil society organizations have expressed mixed reactions, with some praising the standardization efforts while others worry about the impact on local language education programs.