Chitwan: As in other areas of the country, schools were supposed to reopen after the Dashain and Tihar holidays in Chitwan as well.

However, to the utter disappointment of around 63,000 students and their parents, all private schools here remain shut due to the indefinite strike called by teachers.

While the agitating teachers complain that the Private and Boarding Schools´ Organization (PABSON) has failed to address their demands, and threaten to intensify protest, students and parents are extremely worried about the impact the strike would have on children´s education.

As many as 4,000 school teachers from more than 160 schools are on strike. Earlier, PABSON had assured the teachers that their demands would be met within 15 days.

The protest by the teachers associated with Institutional School Teachers´ Union (ISTU) is unlikely to simmer down until PABSON comes up with appealing proposal regarding pay package and allowance for the teachers.

President of ISTU, Chitwan Keshav Raj Pathak justifying the protest said pay scale of the teachers in a majority of schools have not been reviewed for many years.

“Monthly salary of a teacher in government school is between Rs 13,000 to 18,000 while those in private schools are being paid as low as Rs 3500,” he said, adding, that the teachers are unlikely to withdraw their strike until their genuine demands are met.

While the teachers are not in mood to cooperate, this has certainly disrupted the studies of thousands of students. “Look at the fee structure in private schools and see what they are delivering!” said a disappointed Sarina Lama, a parent.

source: republica,2 Nov 2011