Officiating PM for concluding talks with agitating teachers by Friday

KATHMANDU: Officiating Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Purna Bahadur Khadka, has instructed the government negotiation team to reach a resolution with the protesting teachers by this Friday.

Khadka engaged in discussions with the coordinator of the negotiation team, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, as well as Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dhanraj Gurung, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Ashok Rai, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Rekha Sharma, Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal, and other departmental secretaries on Friday to find a way out to the ongoing protest of school teachers.

Teachers from across the country have closed schools and joined the protest in Kathmandu, opposing the recently introduced government bill aimed at amending and consolidating laws related to the education sector. School teacher unions have declared that teachers will not return to schools until their demands are addressed.

School teachers say 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.

A meeting between the two sides was held on Thursday but concluded without a resolution. Further talks are expected later on Friday.