Students and government reach verbal understanding on teacher recruitment row

Following weeks of agitation by the students, the government has verbally assured them that the temporary teachers will be made to join the open competition to be recruited as permanent ones.

After the students engaged in countrywide agitation protesting the recently enacted Education Act – which they accused of having provision that allows all temporary teachers to become permanent automatically – the government minister held talks with student leaders in presence of chief whips of major political parties on Wednesday.

"There has been verbal understanding that for one time, the temporary teachers will be allowed to face open competition without any age bar. Likewise, the provision in the act that allows for separate competition among temporary teachers will also be revoked," said Dilli Ram Subedi, president of Free Student Union of Kathmandu Education Campus.

Students, however, have said that they will not stop their agitation till the understanding is reached in writing. The Education Ministry has indicated that formal decision could be taken on Thursday.

Earlier, the government had introduced the education bill allowing temporary teachers to become permanent under pressure from protests by temporary teachers. The students studying at education faculties across the country have stated that such provision would snatch job opportunities from them. nepalnews.com sd Dec 14 06