Schools for millions of students in Nepal were closed on Friday as tens of thousands of teachers gathered in Kathmandu to protest against an education reform bill in parliament. The teachers have been demonstrating since Wednesday against the School Education Bill, and teacher groups are currently negotiating with government leaders for changes to the legislation. They oppose provisions that would transfer government-run schools to local control, claiming it would lower their status and eliminate many temporary teacher positions. The protest led to the closure of about 29,000 public schools attended by millions of students nationwide, while private schools remained open. The teachers blocked the main street leading from the parliament building to key government ministries, causing traffic disturbances in the capital. Riot police in protective gear were deployed and positioned barbed-wire barricades to block roads leading to the parliament. Despite minor clashes with the police, no significant violence was reported. The teachers have threatened to bring more protesters to Kathmandu if their demands are not met. They demand that teachers be placed under the central government rather than local authorities controlled by politics, and they advocate for equal pay, status, and privileges similar to civil servants.