Teacher movement: protest to continue

KATHMANDU: The ongoing demonstration will continue as negotiations between the administration and the Federation of Teachers have failed.

The talks between the government and the federation at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Singha Durbar on Thursday evening were inconclusive.

Law Minister Dhanraj Gurung stated that the two parties were discussing each issue point by point.

According to him, an attempt would be made today to achieve an agreement on the teachers’ requests by convening another meeting. After reaching an agreement, he believes that arrangements for teaching and learning in public schools will be simple.

Bishnu Prasad Bhandari, President of Nepal National Teachers’ Association, said that there was only a general discussion in Thursday’s meeting. He said, ‘Letters are being written for the committee to hold formal talks. The atmosphere is just ready. After receiving the letter, there will be formal talks,” insists President Bhandari, who will continue their protest until an agreement is reached.

Public schools across the country have come to a standstill after teachers led by the Federation started a protest against the school education bill.

The teachers are putting pressure on the government to satisfy their requests by staging a protest in Kathmandu.

According to data from last year, there are currently 27,343 public schools in the country, with 157,354 instructors employed on a permanent, temporary, or relief basis. Public schools have 5.382 thousand students.

Teachers and school staff from different districts of the country are involved in the sit-in.

The Federation has been demanding an address on issues such as temporary teacher stability, the creation of posts for school staff, child class teachers who work outside of the school structure, the calculation of temporary period and pension, teacher promotion, principal appointment, transfer, and performance evaluation.