Temporary teachers are considering calling off their agitation, now that the government has invited them for talks.

Ram Chandra Adhikari, president of the Temporary Teachers’ Struggle Committee, today informed that the agitating teachers are ready to sit for talks with the government in response to yesterday’s offer to sort out the issues on the negotiating table.

As part of their protest, the teachers had threatened to shut down District Education Offices from September 19.

“If the government is really serious about addressing our demands, we are also ready to be flexible,” the struggle committee chief said. He said teachers will hold a meeting tomorrow and take a final call on whether or not to call off the protest for talks.

Adhikari further pointed that September 13 negotiations between the teachers and government officials had ended on an inconclusive note. Adhikari, committee general secretary Kumud Karna, secretary Narayan Gautam, treasurer Basu Thapa, senior member Om Khatiwada, vice-president Siddartha Tripathy and central member Kabindra Gautam had represented the agitators at the talks with the government.

Government talks team included under secretaries Ram Saran Sapkota, Dinesh Kumar Shrestha, Bir Singh Dhami. At the September 13 dialogue, the agitating teachers had put forth their demands to the government team.

The government officials involved in the talks had pledged to forward the demands to their seniors, including Education Minister and Education Secretary, for a final decision.

They had also sought some time for fulfillment of the teachers’ demands.

The two sides had decided to sit for another round on September 20.

Adhikari warned that teachers will launch a decisive protest if the government tries to cheat them in the name of negotiations.

Demands
> Permanent status for teachers through internal competition between temporary teachers and teachers on contract
> Uniform allowance for all teachers
> Immediate end to the practice of appointing teachers on contract basis
> Constitutional status for Teachers’ Service Commission

source:the himalayan times,16 Sep 2013