KATHMANDU: Raghuji Panta, a senior leader of the CPN-UML, has officially taken the oath of office as the new Minister for Education, Science, and Technology.
As per the Office of the President, Panta was sworn in at 4 PM today during a ceremony held at Sheetal Niwas, officiated by President Ramchandra Paudel.
Pant’s appointment follows the resignation of former Minister Bidhya Bhattarai on Baisakh 8.
Bhattarai resigned amid ongoing political tensions and protests, particularly over her inability to address teachers’ demands and other educational issues.
Panta, elected to the House of Representatives under the proportional representation system, brings decades of political experience to his new role.
Though he was previously critical of party chair KP Sharma Oli during the last term, Pant later opposed the party split and reaffirmed his loyalty to the UML.
He is also recognized as a prominent figure within the Madhav Nepal-aligned faction of the party.
The ministry now faces a challenging landscape, with intensifying teachers’ protests, ongoing educational strikes, and a contentious clause-by-clause debate over the School Education Bill in the parliamentary committee.
Panta’s primary task will be to address the teachers’ movement and restore regular academic activities across the country.
Panta previously served as Minister for Labour and Transport Management in 2061 and has held the position of Press Advisor to Prime Ministers Manmohan Adhikari in 2051 and Madhav Kumar Nepal in 2066.
At 67, Panta is a Standing Committee Member of UML and a proportional representative in the House of Representatives.
