Government Invite for Talks Fails to Impress Agitating Teachers Much

In the wake of another wave of teachers’ protest, the government under acting Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh appears to be in a mood for talks—or for buying time—but at least a section of the protesters does not seem impressed with this gesture. 

A government team under acting PM Singh has invited the Nepal Teachers’ Federation, the organization leading the protest of teachers from across the country demanding the introduction of the Education Act for talks at PM Singh’s office at 3 pm on Friday. The move came after government stakeholders deliberated on the teachers' protest under acting PM Singh.   

Talking to nepalverifiednews.com, Somnath Giri, president of the Nepal Teachers’ Association Federal Working Committee, said: We sat for talks with the government on September 23 also, referring to the government promises made to them. But nothing came of it.

We know nothing about the invite for talks. We have but one demand: The introduction of the School Education Act. For the materialization of this Act, we are ready to go for months-long protests.   

For a brief period, teachers from across the country hit the streets of Kathmandu in March to press for the Education Act. .
The agreement, signed in September 2023, had assured amendments to the bill, but the teachers allege that the authorities have failed to honour their commitments.

Local units want school teachers under their jurisdiction as per the 2015 Constitution, which lists school education as absolute authority of the local government. However, the teachers have refused to stay under local authorities, claiming there are high chances of biased treatment against them driven by political leanings.