KATHMANDU, Oct 29: The government is unlikely to address the demands of the agitating temporary teachers terming that their demands contravene the laws.
There are about 26,000 temporary teachers teaching in public schools across the country, according to the Temporary Teachers Protest Central Committee (TTPCC). The TTPCC has been objecting to the newly amended Education Act, which has provision for either golden handshake or sitting for the examinations to get permanent appointment.
The temporary teachers who had started protest program 10 days ago postponed the sit-in on Thursday to sit for talks called by the Ministry of Education (MoE).
“We are not ready to go for golden handshake,” said Dinesh Thapa, general secretary of the TTPCC. “We should be given chance to take internal exams. Then we can go for golden handshake if the government provides us medical allowance and gratuity,” he added.
MoE officials on the other hand say that the temporary teachers have to pass the exams and prove to be qualified to be permanent teachers.
“As per the law, either they should choose golden handshake or compete in the exams.
After sitting in the exams and failing it, they will not be entertained to take golden handshake.”
Thapa, however, said they would continue with their strike if the government does not address their demands 'rationally'.
“We are against such unjust treatment from the government,” he said.
Dr Hari Prasad Lamsal, spokesman at the MoE, said that the government and the temporary teachers are holding discussions. “We hope to reach a logical conclusion through talks,” he said, adding that the MoE is unable to cross the limitation of the law to address their demands.
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