KATHMANDU: A ‘decisive’ meeting between the government and the protesting teachers is scheduled for this morning (Saturday) , according to the Ministry of Education.
Joint Secretary Yubaraj Poudel issued a press release on Friday evening, informing that the ministry had invited the teachers for dialogue.
The two sides were initially set to meet on Friday, but the discussion did not take place. Representatives of the Teachers’ Federation, including its president Laxmi Kishor Subedi, returned from the Singha Durbar gate after being denied entry passes.
Subsequently, officials from the Ministry of Education and a DSP arrived at the gate with the required passes, but by then the teacher representatives had already left.
The Ministry later cited “unforeseen reasons” for the failure to hold the talks.
Teacher leaders claimed the discussions fell apart after the government named its own teacher representative for the meeting, bypassing those involved in the protest.
For the past 25 days, teachers from across Nepal have been holding demonstrations in Kathmandu, pressing for the swift introduction of a new Education Act.
The strike has disrupted all school-level education, including the student enrollment process.
Comment