‘Adversities Don’t Matter, We Are Ready to Die For Our Cause’

For more than a week, teachers from across the country have been waging a Kathmandu-centric protest at the call of Nepal Teachers' Federation. 
The protest is part of their latest efforts to press for the enactment of the School Education Bill through the Parliament by incorporating issues mentioned in a seven-point deal signed between the then government and protesting teachers on September 22, 2023. 
 

Against this backdrop, nepalverifiednews.com caught up with Somnath Giri, president of the Nepal Teachers’ Association Federal Working Committee.  

What is the status of your movement? 
Every day for the last few days, we have been marching on the streets of Kathmandu, taking our movement from Maitighar Mandala to Baneshwor (the seat of the Parliament).

Isn’t the government leadership listening? The Prime Minister has given certain assurances…..

That I do not know. Yesterday, though, the Ministry of Education wrote a letter, inviting us for talks on the proposed School Education Bill today. The bill is in the Parliament. What is the use of the Education Minister initiating discussions on a Bill that is already in the Parliament? 

We are demanding a conducive environment for talks, we are not against talks. Several movements around the world have reached their logical conclusion through talks. We have certain demands for the creation of a conducive environment for talks. We will respond to the ministry’s invite today.

Your riders for talks… Is this not akin to putting the cart before the horse?

A year ago, we held talks with the government and reached a deal. It is the government’s responsibility to implement the deal. Alright, we will talk about what all to incorporate in the education bill. But before discussions on the bill, the Cabinet and the line minister should do their bit to address our concerns.

They need to be able to say: we have done this much for you to create a conducive environment for talks. Now let’s talk about the bill.

In 2080 (September 22, 2023), we reached a deal with the government. Implement that deal, that is our one-point demand.

What issues do you want incorporated in the School Education Bill before its passage?

More than 150 lawmakers have proposed changes in the bill. After the tabling of the bill in the parliament, the government reached an understanding with us, promising to incorporate our concerns. We want the bill to be passed by incorporating those issues.
 

As the protest drags on, have teachers also started leaving due to certain difficulties related to lodging and fooding?

On the contrary, more and more of our friends are joining the protest. A few teachers may have returned home due to unavoidable circumstances. We are ready to die for our cause right here. Minor inconveniences related to lodging and fooding won’t deter us.

The weather is also getting bad…

Weather adversities do not matter. No matter what adversities come our way, we will hit the streets for our cause.