LALITPUR: All the private schools in the capital remained closed on Thursday following the call of Nepal-Institutional School Teachers’ Union to go on strike.

The ISTU has been demanding reinstatement of teachers sacked by the management committee of Jawalakhel-based St Xavier’s School in addition to providing them appropriate compensation. It has also demanded transparency in school activities.

Meanwhile, St Xaviers’ School stated in a press release: “The students complained that some teachers could not come up to psychological, emotional, intellectual expectation therefore the school management had to take action against those teachers,” adding, “We are not biased against any union or organisation as such.”

According to the statement, the ISTU St Xavier’s School Unit, guardians and school management had reached an agreement on February 22 that the school would not be shut and action would be taken against undisciplined teachers.

Kumar Pandey, general secretary of St Xavier’s School Parents’ Council said the ISTU school unit has acted against the agreement. He said, “If they had any problem with the school, they should have held talks with the management,” adding, “They should not allow politics on the school premises.”

Father Lawrence Maniyar, Regional Superior of Nepal Jesuit Society, said it was the first time in their history that the teachers had protested and shut down the school. He said, “We cannot let any one disturb the studies of our students.” Geeta Rana, president of the National Private and Boarding Schools’ Association of Nepal, said the teachers’ unions were trying to run a management committee parallel to the school management committee. She said, “The government should immediately solve this problem.”

Lakshya Bahadur KC, senior vice president of Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation Nepal, said they should hold talks for negotiation rather than closing schools.