Nepal Teachers' Federation Demands 20% Budget for Education, Cites Teacher Grievances

Kathmandu. The Nepal Teachers' Federation has demanded that the government allocate 20 percent of the total budget to the education sector in the upcoming fiscal year. The federation's national committee, through a press release, has publicized its six-point stance on the Education Act, teacher issues, and contemporary matters.

The press release, signed by the federation's Chairman Laxmikishor Subedi and General Secretary Tula Bahadur Thapa, supports the government's recently announced decision to provide a two-day weekend (Saturday and Sunday) holiday. The federation has also urged all concerned parties to effectively implement this decision.

The federation has also urged for the introduction of a progressive school education act from the upcoming session that addresses the problems of all types of temporary teachers and school staff, including relief, contract, former higher secondary, teaching-learning grant, child classes, and special education.

The federation has expressed objection to teachers and staff working in local levels such as Lahan in Siraha, Kamalamai in Dhanusha, and Budhiganga in Bajura not receiving their salaries for months. The government has been demanded to immediately provide the withheld salaries and allowances and facilitate this process.

The federation has warned to immediately stop the arbitrary removal of teachers from service and their transfer to inconvenient places by various local levels, including Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality in Solukhumbu.

The federation has also indicated that it may introduce further pressure programs if these basic demands of teachers and school staff are not addressed.