KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 20

Thousands of public school teachers today joined a protest rally in Kathmandu against some of the provisions in the new education bill registered at the House of Representatives.

Teachers from across the country gathered here in Kathmandu from yesterday upon the call from Nepal Teachers' Federation. Dozens of other teachers' wings of political parties and teachers' associations joined the protest today.

Irate teachers have forwarded 18-point demand for the government to address in the bill before formally tabling the bill for discussion in the Parliament.

Of all the grievances, the demand against the provisions to allow the local government to take charge of school management, teachers appointment, transfer, demotion and dismissal have taken centre stage.

Public school teachers have long been saying that any kind of decision made about them should come from the federal government just like civil servants.

Agreeing with this demand, the government last year had also signed a deal with the NTF to allow public school teachers to work under the jurisdiction of the central government.

However, the agitatingteachers have accused the government of having intentionally made the decision.

Teachers have also forwarded other demands like appointing the enrolled parttime teachers in public school as permanent teachers, ensuring compulsory and free education in high school, among others.

Teachers have also expressed dissatisfaction with some clauses which recommend barring teachers from receive donations, gifts, establishing companies, engaging in business activities and participating in demonstrations or strikes.

Talking to THT, Achyut Poudel, a secondary level teacher in a public school in Kavre district, said the government should not allow local governments to act in autonomous manner regarding the management of public schools. 'How can we ensure quality and equitable education throughout the country if hundreds of local levels keep on changing or hiring teachers on their own?' Poudel asked. He also warned that schools might be a place to enrol political cadres.

The bill has been critised by various other stakeholders since it was registered at the HoR on September 13.

Earlier, private schools organisations had threatened to shut all the schools until the government made amendment to a provision asking private schools to turn into trust within 10 years. Later, the government agreed with their demand and made the provision optional.

The teachers had joined the protest against the call of Minister of Education, Science and Technology Ashok Kumar Rai to come for talks. They said the protest would continue until the government was ready to amend the bill.

Leaders of major opposition NCP-UML and Nepali Congress have expressed solidarity with the teachers' protest and urged the government to fulfill the genuine demands of the teachers.

Although Kathmandu Metropolitan City has expressed solidarity with teachers' several demands, it has said that action will be taken against teachers working under the jurisdiction of the metropolis if they do not open schools from tomorrow onwards.

A version of this article appears in the print on September 21, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.