Kathmandu, 30 April: The talks between the teachers and the government have concluded with a nine-point agreement.
According to Nanu Maya Parajuli, Vice Chairperson of the Teachers’ Federation, a nine-point agreement was reached during Wednesday’s talks with the government. She also mentioned that the Cabinet is preparing to make a decision regarding this agreement.
“A nine-point agreement has been reached. It has been submitted to the Cabinet. Once the Cabinet makes its decision, the points will be made public. A date has also been set for the enactment of the Education Act,” she said.
She further stated that any decision regarding the teachers’ protest scheduled to start from Thursday will also be finalized after the Cabinet’s decision.
The government and the ruling parties have expressed their commitment to pass the School Education Bill by Asar 15 (June 29).
Mahesh Bartaula, Chief Whip of CPN-UML, informed that during Wednesday’s talks at the Ministry of Education with the protesting teachers, the government reaffirmed its commitment to pass the School Education Bill by Asar 15.
Education Minister Raghujī Pant, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and the chief whips of the ruling parties were also present at the meeting. They are preparing to issue a joint statement from the two parties to reassure the teachers.
In an effort to resolve the ongoing protests, government officials assured teachers that the School Education Bill would be passed by Asar 15 (June 29). “We have committed to passing the bill by Asar 15, and a joint statement from the two ruling parties will soon be issued to reassure the teachers,” a government representative stated.
Teachers have been staging demonstrations in Kathmandu since Chaitra 20 (early April), raising various demands related to their employment conditions and rights.
Currently, the School Education Bill is under review in the Education, Health, and Technology Committee of the House of Representatives. A subcommittee has been formed to address contentious issues, with most matters reportedly nearing resolution.
The ongoing teacher protests have led to a nationwide disruption of educational activities, affecting approximately 29,000 community schools. Key academic operations, including the enrollment campaign, evaluation of Secondary Education Examination (SEE) answer sheets, and the administration of Grade 12 examinations, have also been significantly impacted.
During negotiations, the Teachers’ Federation submitted nine primary demands that they emphasized could be promptly addressed by the Ministry of Education and the Cabinet. These demands included:
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Regularization of salaries for school staff and Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers
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Provision of remote area allowances
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Establishment of a clear ranking structure
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Enrollment in the Social Security Fund
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Adjustment of salary grades
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Coverage of medical expenses
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Implementation of relief education programs
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Salary parity among teachers
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Accumulation of leave benefits and lump-sum payment of accrued leave upon retirement
The government has indicated its intention to resolve these issues through a Cabinet decision, with the official announcement of the agreement expected following formal approval.
