Tribhuvan University Teachers’ Association has decided to end its protests for now after the university demonstrated flexibility towards fulfilling some of its key demands.

Professors have been on phasewise protests since February 1. They have been staging a 24-hour relay hunger strike in front of the TU vice-chancellor’s office in Kirtipur to press the government and the TU to address their 23-point charter of demands.

TUTA said it will end the hunger strike on Friday as TU office-bearers have pledged to address its key demands and taken positive steps to find an amicable solution to the crisis. According to the professors, the TU administration is yet to implement the agreement it had signed with TUTA on September 25, 2012. Their demands include payment to university teachers as per the new salary scale implemented after mid-July last year, immediate announcement of vacancies for various posts in line with a taskforce report, maintenance of a hierarchy system for professors, and respect for the university’s autonomy.

Implementation of the semester system only after in-depth discussions and adequate preparations, merger of TU staff’s provident fund with employees’ provident fund, and publication of results within three months of exams are their other demands. TUTA has also demanded addition of a minimum of Rs 2,000 to monthly academic allowances and insurance for all professors, provisions of health insurance for teachers, and full implementation of rules and regulations governing the university.

source: the himalayan times,23 march 2014