Kathmandu:More than 500 public campus teachers today staged a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Education (MoE) to press the government to fulfil their demands.

The sit-in was organised by Nepal Public Campus Association (NPCA) and Public Campus Teachers’ Association, the umbrella organisations of public campus teachers working in 375 community-run colleges.

Security personnel intervened and arrested more than 100 teachers at around 11:00 am, two hour after the sit-in began.

Establishment of Nepal Public University, and guarantee of service and benefits are among the demands of the teachers. Dhan Lal Maharjan, general secretary, NPCA, said despite enough infrastructure, the government has not allowed them to establish a public university. “Having completed a feasibility study, the University Grants Commission had recommended establishment of a public university,” said Maharjan, accusing the government of not bothering to table the Nepal Public University Bill in the Cabinet. Public campuses are affiliated to Tribhuvan University. However, they are demanding a new university claiming that TU alone cannot contribute further to higher education.

Prem Dhungel, chief, Ramraja Mohan Bikram Shah Multiple Campus, Kalaiya, said 146 teachers were briefly detained and released later.

source: The Himalayan Times, 18 Dec 2011