Kathmandu: Teachers in Nepal, organized by the Nepal Teachers’ Federation, launched a general strike in the school sector on Monday, pressing for the implementation of a new School Education Act.
The strike aims to escalate pressure on the government to address their demands, as reported by local media.
As the main representative body for school teachers in Nepal, the federation urged educators nationwide to close their schools and assemble in Kathmandu for the protests. They instructed teachers to cease all educational responsibilities, including result preparation.
“We have announced a general strike in schools starting April 7 to bolster our ongoing movement. We call on all teachers and staff to participate actively in the educational movement in Kathmandu by shutting down schools across the nation,” stated the federation’s appeal.
Additionally, the federation requested teachers to refrain from tasks such as evaluating answer sheets and publishing results, and not to attend any training workshops, seminars, or educational trips.
This strike was announced as preparations were underway to evaluate answer sheets for the Secondary Education Examination and commence enrollment for the new academic session, which begins on April 15 in Nepal.
Nepal’s Minister for Education, Bidya Bhattarai, commented, “The government has made repeated attempts to engage them in dialogue. I have personally contacted the federation’s chair for discussions and even met with protesters. However, they have declined to engage, claiming there is nothing to discuss.”
The protesting teachers emphasize their demand for a new School Education Act that reflects agreements made previously. “Our sole requirement is a new law. We will not halt our protest until the Act is enacted,” asserted Laxmi Kishor Subedi, the federation chair.
Since April 2, teachers from across the country have been gathering in Kathmandu, urging the passage of the School Education Act, which has remained stalled in Parliament despite earlier commitments from the government.
Carrying placards with messages like “Respect the teaching profession” and “Enact the education act now,” teachers declared an indefinite street protest, marking a critical phase in their push for educational reform. This unrest follows Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel’s decision to prorogue the federal parliament session on government advice, without endorsing the school education bill that has lingered in a House committee for over a year and a half.
