School teachers’ protest completes one week

KATHMANDU: The protest of school teachers led by the Confederation of Nepali Teachers (CNT) completed one week on Tuesday.

School teachers started their protest on February 2 with a single-point demand – the immediate enactment of the School Education Bill. They started their Kathmandu-centric protest on April 2.

According to officials of the CNT, teachers and school staff across the country have been exerting pressure on the government through various means to fulfil their demands. They have halted all educational activities. Since the academic session has already ended, it has not affected the education of school children, though. However, there are concerns that the protest could delay the evaluation of School Education Examination (SEE) answer sheets and the publication of results.

During their demonstration on Tuesday, teachers lit their mobile phone flashlights in broad daylight in the symbolic “search for the government”.

The CNT has described the Kathmandu-centered protest as their final and decisive protest.

In earlier phases of their protest, teachers wore black armbands and masks, blew whistles, and held silent protests to press the government for their demands.

The Federation has warned that it will intensify the movement if the Education Act is not enacted without delay.