Fresh protests to start Tuesday
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KATHMANDU, FEB 11 - Agitating school teachers, after halting work at District Education Offices (DEOs) across the country for five days, have announced another round of protest starting Tuesday. They are demanding permanent placing through an internal selection process.
Temporary Teachers' Central Struggle Committee President Birendra Kunwar said the union will stage sit-ins in front of the Ministry of Education, central offices of major political parties and the Constitution Assembly building. The committee has accused the government of turning a deaf ear to its genuine demands.
"We padlocked the DEOs to exert pressure on the government, to no avail," said Kunwar, adding that the stir will continue until the ministry gives a solid assurance of implementing the six-point deal signed in November 2006. "We will be compelled to shut down all public schools if the ministry keeps ignoring us," he warned. The agreement between the government and the union signed in the presence of eight political parties envisions appointing temporary teachers to permanent posts through an internal competition.
Temporary teachers have been protesting since January, after the government amended two regulations, paving the path for an open competition for filling vacancies in state-owned schools. The union terms the amendment as a betrayal.
Ministry officials stress the need for introducing a new Act to solve the problem saying that the existing law has no provision for holding a competition only among temporary teachers. "We are drafting a new Bill to address their demands," said Lekh Nath Poudel, joint-secretary at the ministry. "It will get full shape after the appointment of the education minister."
The government has not announced a teacher selection competition since 1999, thus creating a severe shortage of competent teachers in public schools across the country. Currently, around 25,000 teachers' posts are vacant in the schools.
Posted on: 2011-02-11 09:00
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