In a move that could affect the future of more than half a million students, agitating teachers’ unions have threatened not to co-operate with the government during the upcoming School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examinations if their demands remain unaddressed till Saturday.

Some 528,357 students, including 82,283 exempted, are sitting for the SLC examinations scheduled to begin on March 20. Similarly, 56,000 staff members, majority of them teachers, will be deployed to conduct the exams at 1,748 centres across the country.

As part of their third-phase protest, around two dozen teachers’ unions affiliated to the Nepal Teachers’ Union, Nepal Teachers Association and Nepal Educational Republican Forum (NERF) have been protesting since last month. Stating that the government never became sensitive towards their genuine demands, the protesting unions say that they have no option but to opt for non-cooperation during the SLC. “We don’t want to hamper the students’ study, but if the government becomes insensitive, stern protests are inevitable,” said NERF president Hom Kumar Thapa. He added that they are ready to postpone their protest if the Ministry of Education gives written commitment to address their demands.

The 47-point charter of demands of the teachers chiefly include permanent status for those serving on temporary basis through internal competition, appointment letters for the teachers, salaries on par with their counterparts who enjoy permanent status and reinstatement or compensation for teachers affected by the conflict. “We have issued an ultimatum till March 10. We are hopeful that the government takes it seriously,” Thapa said. The unions are holding talks with the government since Sunday, but without success.

According to Education Minister Dina Nath Sharma, the government is serious towards the teachers’ demands and expressed hope that the problem will be resolved in a couple of days. “Our dialogue is going ahead in a positive manner and the problem will come to an end soon,” Sharma said. He also urged the teachers not to play with the future of students for the sake of fulfilling their demands. “No one can play with the future of the innocent children.”

source: The Kathmandu Post, 5 March 2012