Kathmandu, October 16 Temporary teachers today accused the government officials of trying to appoint their dear and near ones in the vacant permanent posts and warned of shutting down community schools in the Valley on October 20 and 21 if their demands were not met. Nirendra Kunwar, president, Temporary Teachers Struggle Central Committee, today said, “Officials of the Ministry of Education and the Department of Education are planning to kick out temporary teachers to appoint their near and dear ones in the vacant permanent posts.” The eighth amendment to the Education Act has given temporary teachers two options — either to fight for permanent status or opt for golden handshake. The act also states that if a temporary teacher fails to pass the written test for permanent status, s/he will have to return home empty-handed. Likewise, teachers who opt for golden handshake also need to submit their application to respective district education offices before the last date for submission of application for written test. Kunwar said, “The government is planning to bid farewell to temporary teachers immediately after they fail the written test. Teachers who do not pass the written test should be allowed to teach in their respective schools till the appointment of a new permanent teacher which might take more than a year,” he said. Temporary teachers have been demanding that the government grant facilities to those teachers who fail in the exam for permanent status in accordance with the seventh amendment to the Education Act. Similarly, they have also demanded that the government also add the number of years spent as a temporary teacher for retirement benefits if they pass the written test for permanent status. Temporary teachers have also decided to stage a sit-in protest in front of the prime minister’s official residence in Baluwatar for two hours from 8:00 am on October 18 and relay hunger strike on October 19, 20 and 21.