Teachers In Agitation

The community school teachers under the Nepal Teacher's Federation have launched a general strike from April 7, demanding the enactment of a new School Education Act. To intensify pressure on the government to address their demands, they are planning school closures, suspension of result preparations and a boycott of training workshops. Despite the previous commitments, the government has yet to approve the education bill that has been pending in the Federal Parliament. The teachers have vowed to continue the strike until the law is enacted. Their demands are not sudden and the government had assured that it would meet them in the past.  However, a situation of deadlock and lack of negotiation must end as the agitation will seriously hamper smooth teaching and learning. 

The striking teachers have urged that the bill incorporate provisions previously agreed upon. They want the security of their administrative placement under the federal government. This, they say, will avoid possible inconsistency and politicisation in teacher management under the jurisdiction of the local governments. In the federal system, where local levels vary widely in resources, capacity and political stability, teachers fear that their professional rights are not duly addressed. The other day, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli held discussions with concerned ministers and secretaries regarding the demands put forth by agitating teachers. The teachers and the government should not be wasting time to create an environment where the rights of the students to study are ensured. 

The academic future of the students should never be put in uncertainty on any pretext. This will only frustrate the students and parents who want to see a peaceful and unobstructed academic environment in the country.  Now, preparations were underway to check the answer sheets of the Secondary Education Examination and the enrollment campaign for the new academic session. The teachers' strike has halted classes, and they have refrained from duties such as checking answer sheets and helping in the timely publication of the results. The demands regarding pure academic concerns are always relevant.

The representatives of the people in the Parliament and the government must not ignore the urgency of passing the School Education Bill and it is also important to ensure the previously agreed terms are incorporated. The tendency to overlook past agreements erodes trust in public institutions and weakens democratic process. The teachers, when dedicated to their duty, deserve professional dignity and protection from the government as they are the foundation of the nation's academic development. At the same time, teachers should not be protesting on the streets instead of teaching in the classrooms.

In a positive development, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology on Tuesday invited the representatives of the Nepal Teachers Federation to the ministry for talks on Wednesday.  The Ministry has requested the Federation to come to the negotiated table representing all types of teachers and employees, including those temporary and working under the relief quotes and higher secondary and child development ones. Last week, the ministry called upon the agitating teachers to sit for talks twice but they turned down the request. As PM Oli has already expressed commitment to address the teachers' demands, they must find a solution amicably and end the deadlock that put the future of hundreds of thousands of students in jeopardy.