Kathmandu, April 5

Student unions affiliated to three major political parties today submitted a memorandum to Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giri Raj Mani Pokharel, demanding amendment to the Education Act.

The memorandum submitted to the minister by student unions stated: “The controversial ninth amendment to the Education Act has deprived thousands of aspiring teachers, who hold teaching licence, of jobs. So we demand that the ministry work to restore the earlier provision, which allows fulfilment of 49 per cent vacant posts through internal competition and 51 per cent through open competition.” The ninth amendment to the Education Act has provisioned that 25 per cent of vacant posts will be filled through open competition and  75 per cent by appointing temporary teachers through internal competition.

The student unions also demanded that the minister take steps to reduce tuition fee charged by private schools.

Chairman of All Nepal Free Student Union (Revolutionary) Ranjeet Tamang, Vice-chairman of All Nepal Free Student Union Mahesh Bartaula and Vice-president of Nepal Student Union Pushpa Kumar Shahi had signed the memorandum. The Teachers Service Commission has cancelled the exam of temporary teachers scheduled for April 6.