KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 29

Protesting relief quota teachers ended their agitation in Kathmandu after the government agreed to sign a five-point deal with them.

Unhappy with the agreement between Nepal Teachers Federation and the government a few days ago, relief quota teachers had been protesting in Maitighar Mandala for the last few days.

As per the agreement, age bar won't apply to relief quota teachers for taking part in open internal competition for teachers' job. There are approximately 40,000 relief quota teachers serving in community schools in the country.

Both sides also agreed that schools would create vacancies equal to relief quota teachers and school employees (other than teachers) and there will be no age bar for competing for permanent job.

The agreement states that there shall be 100 per cent internal competition for relief quota teachers. This means the internal competition will be limited for those relief quota teachers that are currently in employment.

They have agreed that contribution-based social system will apply to only those teachers that will be recruited under the new education law. The new bill will be modified to incorporate the agreement reached by relief quota teachers and the government.

Teacher Khemraj Adhikari, who led the relief quota teachers protest in Kathmandu, said the five-point agreement with relief quota teachers and sixpoint agreement signed with Nepal Teachers Federation will be part of the School Education Bill registered in the Parliament.

Adhikari, said that if the government provides retirement benefits to relief quota teachers, around 10,000 teachers will be happy to quit their job without opting for competition for permanent recruitment.

The government also agreed to count the relief quota teachers' service as temporary teachers before being recruited as relief quota teachers.

Both sides agreed to distribute national teachers' identity card to teachers. Teachers will be transferred only after their probationary period ends. If any school employee fails the test for permanent job, or if he/she wants to take retirement, then he/she should be given retirement benefits in accordance with the length of his/ her service.

Teachers appointed under the prevailing laws shall be entitled to pension under the existing laws.

A version of this article appears in the print on September 30, 2023, of The Himalayan Times