Govt, agitating school teachers strike deal

KATHMANDU: The government and agitating school teachers reached an understanding on Friday, putting an end to the ongoing protest of teachers.

Minister for Communication and Information Technology Rekha Sharma told reporters that the two sides have reached a seven-point agreement which is currently being formalized.

Teachers from across the country have taken to the streets since Wednesday at the call from the Confederation of Nepalese Teachers (CNT) to voice their objections to a recently introduced government bill aimed at amending and consolidating education sector laws.

Both sides came to an understanding after four rounds of negotiations. The government’s negotiation team was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha and included Law Minister Dhanraj Gurung and Education Minister Ashok Rai. Likewise, the teachers’ negotiation team included CNT President Kamala Tuladhar, General Secretary Laxmi Kishor Subedi, Coordinator of the Protest Mobilization Committee Nanumaya Parajuli, and representatives from three teachers’ unions.

School teachers are saying that the Bill has overlooked their major demands like permanent appointment of teachers working in temporary positions, the creation of positions for school staff, the management of early childhood development (ECD) teachers who are currently outside the existing school structure, teachers’ promotions and retirements, and the appointment of headmasters, among others.