Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Confederation of Nepalese Teachers (CNT) has warned of resuming protests, stating that the School Education Bill does not incorporate provisions agreed upon in previous negotiations with them.
The CNT also expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s failure to table the Bill in the House of Representatives by June 29, as agreed during negotiations that ended the 89-day teachers’ movement in April.
“We demand that the upcoming School Education Act must be student-, teacher-, and school-friendly. But the government’s failure to implement past agreements has compelled us to consider resuming protests,” the CNT said in a statement.
According to the CNT, the government had agreed to conclude all discussions and agreements following the nationwide protest of school teachers in Kathmandu. It has accused the parliamentary Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee of taking a position contrary to those agreements during ongoing deliberations on the Bill.
The CNT has alleged that decisions and proposed provisions discussed in the committee undermine teachers’ constitutional rights, dignity and professional security. “The state’s attitude toward teachers continues to reflect authoritarian arrogance and a dismissive mindset,” the statement added.
It also criticized the government for not being serious about key issues such as the permanent status of temporary teachers, promotions of permanent teachers, disciplinary action procedures, trade union rights, transfer systems, the management of support staff and pre-primary teachers, the safety of institutional school teachers, reinstatement of conflict-affected teachers and post alignment, among others.
