Demands not addressed immediately to be handled through legislation
KATHMANDU, April 30: The Nepal Teachers' Federation (NTF) and the government are close to reaching an agreement. The two sides’ meeting, held late Tuesday night at the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, has nearly reached consensus on a nine-point proposal that includes the teachers' demands. The Cabinet will address these demands and, if approved by the Cabinet, will incorporate them into the upcoming budget.
Minister for Education, Science, and Technology Raghuji Pant, Education Secretary Deepak Kafle, and the coordinator of the talks, Krishna Prasad Kapri, represented the government at the meeting. Kapri is the Director General of the Centre for Education and Human Resource Development.
The NTF was represented by its President Laxmikishor Subedi, General Secretary Tula Thapa, Vice President Nanu Maya Parajuli, and Deputy Secretary Madan Raj Joshi.
Information Officer at the Ministry of Education, Nilkanth Dhakal, said that the ministry and the teachers came close to an agreement during Monday night's talks, based on a seven-point proposal prepared by former Education Minister Bidya Bhattarai.
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On Tuesday, the teachers returned with additional points. Following the agreement, the meeting on Tuesday night added two more points, resulting in a nine-point proposal for discussion. Dhakal informed that Kapri, Director General of the Centre for Education and Human Resource Development, led the talks. Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak also participated in the negotiations.
The NTF reached a near-agreement on Tuesday after its 28-day-long street protest in Kathmandu. The Cabinet will decide on the immediate issues of teachers' concerns, which will be incorporated into the upcoming budget, while other demands will be addressed through legislation. Although the ministry and the teachers reached an agreement, they will officially sign it on Wednesday. Ram Prasad Dhakal, the NTA's Deputy General Secretary, explained that the agreement to suspend the protest depends on obtaining consent from the federation's provincial and district presidents.
"Although we reached an agreement with the ministry, we will collect signatures from the provincial and district protest coordination committee presidents on Wednesday," Dhakal said. "We will call off the protest only after receiving their consent. We will return to schools, and regular classes will resume."
NTA Vice President Nanu Maya Parajuli also confirmed that they are close to reaching an agreement on the nine-point proposal. Speaking briefly to the press as she left the meeting, she explained that discussions had focused on points that the Cabinet could address, and she expected a conclusion by Wednesday evening. However, she did not disclose the details of the nine points.
"Today (Wednesday), the Cabinet will approve the proposal, and we will receive a commitment for a specific date to enact the School Education Act," she said. "We will also make a commitment from our side (NTF)."
Sources confirm that the talks have reached an agreement to include teachers in the government’s rank list, grant relief positions, and address the issue of teachers who previously worked in higher secondary positions. These teachers, who were eligible for special benefits under Section 11(d)(9) of the Eighth Amendment of the Education Act but were excluded, will now be entitled to accumulate sick leave and receive a lump-sum payment upon retirement.
The talks also focused on providing discounted healthcare for teachers and staff at the Civil Service Hospital of Nepal. Additionally, the parties have nearly reached a consensus to adjust the grade numbers and amounts for permanent teachers in the primary third category, starting from the fiscal year 2025/26, to match the benefits provided to positions such as non-gazetted second-class officer, non-gazetted first-class officer, and section officers.
The talks have reached an agreement to provide remote area allowances for teachers based on their permanent address as of the date of the decision, similar to other teachers. The agreement also includes setting a minimum monthly salary for early childhood development facilitators and school staff, and enrolling all non-permanent teachers and staff working in community schools into the contribution-based social security fund through regulatory provisions. The agreement outlines preparing and implementing a suitable package for managing the social security fund.
Furthermore, the talks agreed that the state should cover the medical treatment costs for teachers and staff injured during the protest, and arrangements should be made for periodic promotions for teachers.
"According to the agreement, the minimum monthly salary for preschool teachers will be set at 17,300 rupees, and the government will arrange the additional eight billion rupees required to fulfil the immediate demands," said Information Officer Dhakal. "The government will address other demands through legislation and is preparing for the financial management of those demands."
