Kathmandu, November 3:

The temporary teachers in the government schools today announced further protest programmes to press the government to give them permanent status.

Their programmes include holding interactions with teachers, guardians and political parties on the issue on November 7 and lock out of District Education Offices across the nation for three days from November 8. Dinesh Thapa, general secretary of Temporary Teachers Struggle Central Committee, said after the committee meeting, that they would lock out the DEOs for other five days if their demands were not fulfilled The committee has also asked all the educational institutions across the nation to be ready for a shut down when necessary. Thapa said the panel has given plenty of time to the government to meet the demands and the government would be responsible for the consequences of their next round of stir. Meanwhile, temporary teachers today rallied from Ratnapark to Sahidgate and ended at Maitighar Mandala.

The temporary teachers have been organising relay hunger strike since September 20 at Ratna Park and sit-in protest in front of all the district education offices through out the nation from October 8.

A report from Lamjung said the agitation by the teachers has affected administrative works in the district education office while 50 per cent of the schools in the district have been affected.

Acting district education officer in Lamjung, Devendra Raj Khanal said works in his office was halted following the sit-in protests of nearly two hundred temporary teachers in front of his office. He also said that the teachers’ agitation has also forced many schools to closure. According to a member of the struggle committee and teacher in Tribhuvan secondary school in Dhanpokhara, Bhisma Kuinkel, temporary teachers are employed in most schools in remote areas in the district and their participation in the agitation has affected operation of schools. Classes in some 50 per cent of schools in the district have been affected, he said.

The temporary teachers had locked up district education office in Besisahar on October 31 and November 1 while they also staged sit-in programme yesterday and today.

Adviser of the struggle committee Tika Poudyal said the struggle committee has come up with further programmes including publicity campaign about agitation on November 5, 6, and 7.