Find Amicable Solution

In an effort to fulfill the legitimate demands put forth by the Kathmandu-centric protest of schoolteachers under the Nepal Teachers' Federation, the government has already taken a series of steps and is considering taking more. It has agreed to increase the salary of the Early Childhood Development Facilitators, to determine the order of precedence for teachers, to provide an inflation allowance for school employees, as well as a medical allowance for temporary teachers. Over the past few days, both sides have held informal dialogues multiple times. But the fact that the protest has entered its third week is deeply concerning.  

Prominently featured in the demands is the implementation of the past agreement reached between the erstwhile governments and the teachers. Inking agreements only to turn a blind eye to them later on erodes faith in the system. It is for this reason that the teachers doubt that the agreements will be honoured. However, they need to keep in mind that the frequent change in the past governments was the main reason why the agreements were kept on the back burner or failed to be implemented altogether. 

However, in sharp departure from the past, stability is the hallmark of the present government, formed by the unshakable coalition of the parties securing an overwhelming majority in the last elections.  This means that the people have put this government in a position that is powerful enough to implement any agreement, provided that they are reasonable and within its power. Every agreement deserves to be honoured no matter the cost.

Going a step further on Wednesday, it decided to summon the session of the Federal Parliament for April 25 to get the long-pending School Education Bill, one of the major demands, passed by the parliament. This latest step towards resolving the issue amicably shows how committed and serious the government is to addressing their concerns. Working tirelessly in this direction, Minister for Education Bidya Bhattarai has reiterated the government's commitment to addressing the legitimate demands through continued dialogue. She is also said to have been holding inter-ministerial discussions on the financial and legal dimensions of addressing the demands. 

At the same time, the government has urged all agitating teachers to return to their workplace in the best interest of students and guardians. The fact that the teachers are on the streets at the time of student enrolment, and when the SEE answer sheets have to be evaluated, is worrying. Deeply concerned by the toll of the protests on children's right to education, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the government to sort out the issue through meaningful dialogue. The students need not be caught in the middle, nor their future be put at stake.

The teachers, for their part, should drop the demands that are unbearably burdensome for the government and so are not only unreasonable but also unlikely to be met. What's more, the protest programmes have been disrupting vehicular traffic and causing a significant nuisance to many passers-by daily. The time lost and the inconvenience caused to them have become huge. In light of this fact, the agitating teachers should consider ending the protests and accept the government's offer to join the negotiation table.