Teachers Strike in Nepal for Permanent Contracts
Temporary teachers in Nepal have gone on strike to demand that their contracts be made permanent, which has affected around six million students. The organization representing 40,000 temporary teachers began a series of strikes on Sunday, and on Monday, protesting teachers clashed with police in Kathmandu, leaving several teachers injured.
The demonstrators are protesting an education bill that proposes only 20 percent of temporary teachers at government- and community-run schools will be made permanent.
Previously, the government filled 70 percent of vacant teaching positions with temporary teachers, who were given permanent contracts based on internal competition. However, the new bill proposes making just 20 percent of the places permanent, leaving the rest to be filled by temporary teachers.
A Ministry of Education spokesman, Bishnu Prasad Mishra has urged protesters to end their demonstration and hold talks with the government. He also assured them that their grievances would be addressed. According to the spokesman, temporary teachers were hired by schools nationwide after permanent positions went vacant over the years.
Reasons for the strike by temporary teachers
Here are the reasons for the ongoing strike by temporary teachers in Nepal:
• The demonstrators are protesting an education bill that proposes only 20 percent of temporary teachers at government- and community-run schools will be made permanent.
• Previously, the government filled 70 percent of vacant teaching positions with temporary teachers, who were given permanent contracts based on internal competition.
• However, the new bill proposes making just 20 percent of the positions permanent, leaving the rest to be filled by temporary teachers.
• The organization representing 40,000 temporary teachers began a series of strikes on Sunday to demand that their contracts be made permanent.
The strike has resulted in school closures and disruptions to students’ education. If the strike lasts for an extended period, children can fall behind in their studies and have trouble catching up.
What is the impact of this strike on students?
The ongoing strike by temporary teachers in Nepal has affected around six million students across the country. The protests began on Sunday, and on Monday, protesting teachers clashed with police in Kathmandu, leaving several teachers injured 12. The demonstrators are opposing an education bill that proposes only 20 percent of temporary teachers at government- and community-run schools will be made permanent.
The strike has resulted in school closures and disruptions to students’ education. If the strike lasts for an extended period, children can fall behind in their studies and have trouble catching up. The protest has affected the studies of seven million students in 34,000 schools, of which 6,000 are private. Over 20 percent of the students are enrolled in private schools. The bill has met with criticism from several quarters since it was registered in the House of Representatives on September 13.
