Lamjung, March 28:

The Nepal Education Republic Forum (NERF) today padlocked district education offices (DEOs) across the country as part of its nationwide protest programme to press the government to meet its seven-point charter of demands.

The DEOs in all the 75 districts were padlocked, reports from districts, including Lamjung, Udayapur, Dhankuta, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Chitwan, and Kaski, said.

Sources in various district education offices said that the padlocking would affect the upcoming SLC examinations scheduled to begin from April 4.

The All Nepal Teachers’ Union, Nepal Progressive Teachers’ Union, Republic Teachers’ Union and some other organisations are part of the NERF.

“Our seven-point demands include immediate formation of an interim government, setting the date for the constituent assembly polls, implementing a new democratic education system from this academic year and implementing the agreements reached between the eight parties and the Education Ministry on November 24 last year, among others,” said Lamjung coordinator of the NERF.

“At the central level, the eight parties have decided not to obstruct the SLC examinations. However, the NERF has locked up the DEO and this will affect the SLC examinations,” said Lamjung Chief District Officer Gyani Yadav.

The All Nepal Teachers’ Organisation chairman Rishi Ram Chapagain said: “We locked up the Lamjung DEO not to obstruct the SLC examination but to pressurise the authorities concerned to fulfil our demands.”

A report from Gaighat said the NERF padlocked Udaypur DEO. Daily work came to a halt following the padlocking.

“The scheduled SLC examination would be affected if the padlocking continues for two more days,” said Brish Bahadur Tamang, senior official at the District Education Office. The NERF activists locked up the office after forcing the staffers out.

In Dhankuta, too, the NERF members padlocked the DEO.

A report from Nuwakot said the NERF there padlocked the DEO for an indefinite period.

In Rasuwa also, the NERF activists locked up the DEO bringing work there to a halt.

Activists of the NERF padlocked the Chitwan DEO and also held a noisy protest after setting up a dais at the main gate. The programme was chaired by Chitwan NERF president Tek Bahadur Thapa.