KATHMANDU, May 8: The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) has issued a directive to all government school teachers to return to work except those who are currently undergoing treatment for severe illnesses.
Harish Bhatt, legal and press advisor to the Education Minister, announced the decision following a secretary-level meeting held at the ministry on Tuesday.
Responding to complaints received by the education ministry regarding disruptions in school operations caused by teachers being assigned to various non-teaching roles, Education Minister Sumana Shrestha has instructed all government teachers to resume their duties, except those with fatal diseases.
Lately, voices have been raised that teachers should not be engaged in activities other than teaching and learning. Legal and press expert Bhatt said that the same voice was addressed by the Ministry of Education.
In a recent incident, Nagarjun Municipality Mayor Mohan Bahadur Bahadur Basnet faced controversy for employing his wife, a teacher at Jana Uddhaar Secondary School, in his secretariat. Complaints that such actions of the mayor had a negative impact on the school's teaching reached the MoEST.
Similarly, the complaints of teachers belonging to various unions and organizations leaving the school and coming to Kathmandu had also reached the MoEST.
Additionally, complaints surfaced regarding teachers associated with various unions and organizations particularly in Kathmandu, neglecting their teaching duties to engage in activities elsewhere.
On the other hand, the MoEST Spokesperson Keshav Dahal said that the ministry had to take a tough decision because numerous complaints were received by the ministry regarding teachers assuming leadership roles at the expense of their teaching obligations.
Dahal, who is also the head of the school division, said that the MoEST has taken strict measures to stop such activities, stating that many complaints have been received by the ministry that teachers have left teaching and have been transferred to other jobs.
"The MoEST has already written to the Center for Education and Human resource Development (CEHRD) to implement the decision on Tuesday's order to teachers return to their work," Spokesperson Dahal told Republica, "The decision aligns with the Code of Conduct for Teachers outlined in the Education Regulations, which prohibits job transfers without authorization from the School Management Committee and the District Education Coordination Unit.”{
He mentioned that the CEHRD will contact all municipalities and units to execute the directive by Wednesday. The ministry firmly asserts that transferring teachers to other locations is unacceptable, as their primary duty is to teach.