The government is planning to form a Teacher Selection Committee (TSC) for the appointment of teachers in institutional schools.Currently, owners or principals of institutional schools appoint subject teachers based on their own criteria, discretion and nepotism.

A couple of weeks back, a taskforce formed under the coordination of director of the Department of Education (DoE) to set standards for institutional schools had suggested to the government to form a TSC.

As per the taskforce proposal, chairperson of the School Management Committee (SMC) or an SMC-selected candidate shall head the TSC, which will have school inspector of the respective area as member, principal of the school concerned as member-secretary and subject expert as an invitee member.

The taskforce had proposed bylaws for teachers and school employees. At first, the teachers selected will get a year’s contract and their services and facilities will be as per the Contract Act. Schools can also create permanent positions for teachers.

Home Kumar Thapa, president of the Nepal Institutional School Teachers’ Union, said TSC is one of the demands of institutional school teachers.Thapa, who is also president of the Nepal Educational Republic Forum, expressed doubts over the committee’s jurisdiction.He said, “We demanded inclusion of subject expert and a member representing the guardians, but the committee does not have the latter.”

Among other things, the teachers of institutional schools have been demanding appointment letters and pay and perks on a par with teachers of community schools. Thapa said it will be better if the committee provides appointment letters and determines teachers’ salaries as per their demands.

Tek Narayan Panday, DoE director, said they have been preparing directives by incorporating all crucial issues. He said they have already started consultations on the directives.

source: The Himalayan Times,18 Oct 2012