Teachers strengthen nationwide protest for Federal Education Act

KATHMANDU: Teachers across the country have intensified their protest demanding the Federal Education Act, which started five days ago from Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu.

As of Monday, the protest has escalated into a full-scale strike, with schools shut down nationwide.

Despite repeated requests from the government, no substantial response has been given to the teachers’ demands, leading to the Nepal Teachers Federation organizing a more aggressive movement.

The Federation has called on teachers from all community schools across the country to unite for the cause.

Laxmikishore Subedi, President of the Teachers Federation, stated that while the protest had been relatively “soft” until Sunday, from Monday onward, it would take a stronger form. He emphasized that widespread participation from teachers was crucial to pressure the government into passing the Education Act.

Subedi made it clear that teachers would not retreat from the streets until the Act was implemented, despite multiple attempts at dialogue with the government.

On Sunday, protests in Kathmandu, including Maitighar, Babarmahal, and Bijulibazar, resonated with slogans from around 25,000 teachers.

The protests were orderly and respectful, with cultural programs used to convey the message, and no litter left on the streets.

It is expected that the number of participating teachers will double today, with over 50,000 expected to join.

Teachers have warned that during the protest period, activities such as SEE copy testing will be halted, and other educational functions will be disrupted.

The background of the protest lies in the government’s failure to implement the agreement made on Ashoj 5 of last year. This agreement included key issues such as promotions for secondary-level teachers, service period calculations, reviews of departmental actions, pension-related arrangements, and competition for teachers in contract and grant-based positions

. Despite the agreement, the government has failed to take the necessary legal steps, prompting teachers to gather in Kathmandu for the protest.

In response to the movement, the government has shown restraint. Ministry spokesperson Shiv Kumar Sapkota stated that the government is taking the teachers’ demands seriously and is in discussions with various stakeholders.

However, teachers remain firm in their stance that the solution lies not in dialogue, but in the legal establishment of the Education Act.

The protest has garnered support from 15 political parties and teacher organizations.

These organizations, including the United All Nepal Teachers Organization, the Nepal National Teachers Union, the Madhesi Teachers Forum, the Democratic Teachers Union, and the All Nepal Teachers Union, have joined forces in a unified stance, declaring that the protest will continue until the Education Act is passed in Parliament.