Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: For the past seven months, Deukumar Limbu, the headmaster of Thechambu Secondary School in Pathibhara Yangbarak-2 of Taplejung, has been on the hunt for a science teacher.
Following the resignation of a contract-based teacher in January, he published the vacancy notice three times with the District Education Coordination Unit’s permission. However, no applications were received for the position. The fourth vacancy notice was published on August 18. Despite his efforts, Limbu remains uncertain if there will be any applicants.
Bhumesthan Secondary School in Birta Deurali, Chauri Deurali Rural Municipality-8 of Kavre, has posted the vacancy for a lower secondary level mathematics teacher for the second time. This time, Head Master Chandra Man Lama has waived the requirement of a teaching license for applicants. Despite this change, Lama expresses uncertainty about receiving applications.
Shree Secondary School in Dhaddaghari, Bharatpur-16, first advertised a vacancy for a secondary-level science teacher last month. With no applications received, the school published a second vacancy notice on Monday. Interested individuals can apply for the position until August 27.
Similarly, Janajagriti Secondary School in Thakre, Dhading, also released a notice on Tuesday to fill a vacant position of mathematics teacher. The second vacancy notice was issued after the first attempt yielded no applications. Interested individuals can apply for the post until August 27.
Likewise, Laxmi Secondary School in Palpa has republished its vacancy notice to fill the vacant position of Crop Science. Dhuralsain Secondary School in Budhiganga Municipality-9 of Bajura also reissued a vacancy notice to fill the vacant position of a science teacher on August 18.
Numerous community schools across the country continue to struggle to secure science and mathematics teachers. One reason cited by headmasters is the mandatory requirement for applicants to possess a valid teaching license. They also note that science and mathematics graduates are not much interested to pursue a career in teaching.
Numerous community schools across the country continue to struggle to secure science and mathematics teachers. One reason cited by headmasters is the mandatory requirement for applicants to possess a valid teaching license. They also note that science and mathematics graduates are not much interested to pursue a career in teaching.
Lama, the Headmaster of Bhumesthan Secondary School, said that a majority of science and mathematics graduates prefer higher education abroad. “Those who remain in Nepal are generally not interested in teaching as a profession, and many of them do not apply for a teaching license,” he added.
To address this challenge, Lama’s school has eliminated the teaching license requirement in its recent vacancy notice.
Similarly, Limbu, the headmaster of Thechambu Secondary School, said it is difficult to find graduates with valid teaching licenses, particularly in rural districts. “If this is the situation in schools like ours near the district headquarters, one can only imagine the situation in remote areas,” Limbu added.
Limbu is even considering urging government authorities to relax the criteria, even if it means temporarily compromising on educational standards.
Government officials, however, expressed optimism about finding a solution to the problem soon. “The recent budget speech has introduced some provisions in this regard. We are hopeful that these provisions will be implemented soon,” said Basanta Prasad Koirala, deputy director general of the Center for Education and Human Resource Development.
According to the new provision, individuals, who have not studied education as a subject can, now sit for the teaching license examination. “The Teacher’s Service Commission is in the process of developing the work procedure to implement this provision,” Koirala explained. “This will allow graduates from various fields to sit for the teaching license examination, ensuring a qualified workforce for the education sector.”
So far, only those who had studied education as a subject and completed at least 10 months of subject-related training are eligible to take the license examination.
