Teachers' strike halts classes at Manipal College again

KATHMANDU: Teaching-learning activities at the Pokhara-based Manipal College of Medical Sciences have come to a standstill again as teachers began a new protest demanding implementation of an earlier pact.

In particular, classes of MBBS seventh and ninth semesters, which were in operation at its Teaching Hospital, have been affected as the teachers resorted to the strike today.

The College was shut for nearly three months due to similar strikes and had resumed classes on November 17.

But, the teachers today launched the strike claiming the pact signed on November 16 was not implemented yet.

The College administration, however, has claimed that an agreement was held to meet all the demands within two months, and it was wrong on the part of teachers to resume the strike not even after two weeks.

There are around 300 students currently studying in the two semesters. They said the renewed agitation rendered them in a serious stress.

A guardian Bishwa Prakash Lamichhane complained that they had been forced to pay the fees regularly despite the obstruction.

"We have paid the fees, and teachers and managers are getting their perks," he lamented, "Who are suffering are students."

A student Jagan Gurung said the repeated strikes had already delayed their calendar by a year and it would inflict a loss of Rs 1-1.5 million on the guardians.