KATHMANDU, June 18: The ongoing protest of the Nepal Public School Employees' Council (NPSEC) has been postponed after the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST) formed a negotiation committee, and invited them to hold talks.

Chudamani Poudel, coordinator of the negotiation committee formed by the ministry and director general of the Center for Education and Human Resource Development (CEHRD), said that the negotiations will start this afternoon. The Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration are also representatives in the negotiation committee.

Chairman of the NPSEC Gangaram Tiwari said that they are ready to sit for talks in order to implement the agreement reached in the past and to honor the order of the Supreme Court. He also said that the protest was withdrawn respecting the government's request and sentiment to come to the talks.

The NPSEC and related organizations had earlier announced the closure of community schools across the country today. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City had warned that action would be taken if the schools remain closed. The Nepal Teachers' Federation also requested them to come to the talks.

According to the order of the Supreme Court dated February 6, 2011, school employees were required to work on a monthly salary ranging from Rs 8,500 to Rs 12,500. It was mentioned that the implementation of the service, conditions, and facilities of the employees should be regulated by enacting laws, but there have been delays and inconsistencies in its implementation. 

NPSEC has criticized the government for not addressing any of their grievances in the budget, despite pledging to ensure perks and facilities for the employees in the upcoming fiscal year's policies and programs. 

 
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