Kathmandu, August 21

Unified All Nepal Teachers Organisation today demanded golden handshake and medical facilities for temporary teachers who retired due to age bar.

Many temporary teachers retired after they reached the age of 60 years. Such teachers were neither given any gratuity or other benefits nor the opportunity to fight for permanent posts.

However, the Education Act (eighth amendment) allows them to either accept the golden handshake or fight for permanent posts through internal competition.

Organising an assembly of province 3 in Kathmandu, the UANTO presented the concept paper regarding post-retirement perks for retired temporary teachers. Similarly, it also demanded permanent status for relief teachers and school employees.

Shankar Adhikari, general secretary, UANTO, warned of protests if the government failed to give permanent status to such teachers and employees. “If the government starts granting permanent status to teaching and non-teaching staff, we could concentrate on improving the quality of education,” he added.

He also urged the government to create an environment for teachers to fully concentrate on teaching the students. “The government has always cheated us. Therefore have not been able to concentrate on teaching activities,”

he said.  Stating that the recently amended Education Act was not complete as the issues raised by the teachers were not incorporated in it, he said, “We will stage protests to get our demands fulfilled.”

Bhola Sapkota, president, UANTO, said the government should not ignore the demands put forth by teachers. “The issues of teachers, which were not included in the act, should be addressed by the Education Regulations,” said Sapkota.