KATHMANDU: More than 2,510 private and community plus two colleges remained shut today across the nation due to an indefinite strike called by the Higher Secondary Schools Teachers’ Association Nepal (HISTAN). The stir has affected 450,000 students .

The teachers associated with HISTAN have also padlocked the Department of Education and Higher Secondary Education Board for an indefinite period.

Pushpa Neupane, coordinator of the Central Struggle Committee, HISTAN, said that they were on strike to pressure the government to fulfil its earlier commitments. Despite signing an eight-point agreement reached with the government in December 29, last year, the government was apathetic to implement the agreement, he lamented.

According to Neupane, the government had agreed to provide three teacher quotas for every higher secondary school, permanent status to all plus two colleges, management of services and facilities of teachers in private colleges and others.

A talk held yesterday between the agitating teachers and the Education Minister Ram Chandra Kushwaha ended inconclusively. “HISTAN was compelled to launch the indefinite stir after the breakdown of talks,” Neupane added.

Meanwhile, Umesh Shrestha, president, Higher Secondary Schools Association Nepal, said that they would open colleges defying the strike.