JUMLA, July 2: Protests by private teachers working at government schools has affected the education of students in Sinja Rural Municipality of Jumla. A group of 63 private teachers of 22 government schools in the rural municipality staged a protest stating that they have not been paid their salaries since they joined their schools about a decade ago.
A teacher at Shanti Aadharbhut School, Hari Bahadur Rokaya stated that the private teachers of the government schools in the rural municipality were compelled to take this move. “We previously had informed the school authorities about the issue but no action was taken,” said Rokaya. “We started teaching to earn a living, but we are struggling hard due to not being paid. Therefore, staging a protest was the last resort left to us,” added Rokaya.
The protesting teachers informed the government schools they were working at about their protest programs last Wednesday. The teachers had also given a four-day ultimatum to the schools in order to take an action in their favor. “We had cautioned the schools saying we would have to organize an educational strike if our demand is not heeded. Since we did not get to hear from the school management committees, we had to unite to fight for our rights,” said one of the teachers, Ghanashyam Budha.
As the schools have been affected by the educational strike, the students in the rural municipality have demanded to that the schools resume and the students' education not be hindered.
Chairperson of Sinja Rural Municipality, Dewal Singh Rawal informed Republica that there was a need for understanding the policies that were implemented before the local government came to operation. “Since the terms and conditions under which the teachers were hired are unclear, the local government is not duly responsible. The local unit does not hold the right to hire and pay the private school teachers. However, without hindering the student's education, these matters shall be discussed and resolved by the teachers and the school management committees,” added Rawal.
Parents have expressed their dissatisfaction over the fact that the education of the students is being highly hampered. “As the issue is related to the teachers' employment and students' education, it would be wise if the local government and teachers resolved the issue through dialogue,” said one of the locals.