Kathmandu, 12 April: The teachers’ movement centered in the capital city, demanding the implementation of the agreements reached in the past between the Nepal Government and the Nepal Teachers’ Federation, continued today as well. Gathering at Maitighar-Babar Mahal every day at 11:00 am and holding district-wide processions with banners, speeches on the streets, singing and dancing have become the routine of the agitating teachers.
Teachers and school staff have been asked to attend the protest on the streets to assess their participation. Although there is a representative participation of teachers and school staff from all over the country in the protest, the Federation has issued an order for all teachers and staff in the Kathmandu Valley to be present in the protest.
The movement, which includes teachers who teach letters, write, and make children wear masks, has so far been a peaceful, dignified, and civilized movement that has inspired others. During the movement, teachers have been drawing the government’s attention through programs such as waving their hands, turning on their mobile phones, sleeping on the streets, and making whistles.
Teachers are seen participating in the protest with teaching and learning equipment, microphones, and models. They are also adopting a style of urging the government to fulfill their demands through cultural performances based on local art and culture and costumes. It has been ten days since the Nepal Teachers Federation National Committee started its agitation. The federation is calling for support, cooperation and assistance to take the agitation to the next level without panic, even though it feels that the government has not really listened.
Today, on the tenth day, the teacher representative was encouraging the participants, saying, “Day by day, it has come, it has settled down, what has been achieved! You may think, don’t panic, the achievement is in the process of happening. The government has seen that we came here and cried. National and international media are broadcasting, your hard work will not be in vain. The movement may be prolonged, but don’t get tired and run away.”
Dhanusha teacher Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said that he was forced to join the protest for his professional rights. He said, “Our only demand is that the agreement between the government and the teachers’ union be implemented and a new Education Act be promulgated.”
Krishna Prasad Upreti, a teacher from Kavre who participated in the protest, said that the protest was necessary because the government had not brought a new education act as per the agreement made in the past, which required the results to be published and the admission campaign to be launched. “The protest is not only for teachers but also for the administrative staff of the school, assistants, temporary, contract and relief teachers who are having to return home empty-handed. For that, the education act should be brought soon,” he said.
Dandi Kumar Khatiwada, President of the Teachers’ Federation of Kholukhumbu, said that the protest was necessary because the government was being neglected in implementing the agreement reached in Ashar 2080 BS. He said, “We have chosen a suitable time to protest so that parents and students do not suffer, and this time we have vowed to return only after achieving results, not borrowing.”
Despite being said to be peaceful, the protests are taking place on the main roads of Kathmandu, causing daily problems in the capital’s transportation operations and traffic management. In addition, a large number of police are being deployed for security management.
Permanent, temporary, contract, child development education, relief, school staff, assistant, former higher secondary, learning grant, and other teachers are participating in the movement.
