KATHMANDU, July 4: Teachers from around 60 community schools in Kathmandu Metropolitan City have started agitation demanding their unpaid salaries and allowances. The agitating teachers said they have not been paid for the past three months.
Representatives of teachers from the community schools gathered at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City office, Bagdurbar on Wednesday to press the metropolitan authorities to resolve their problem.
The constitution has entrusted the local units with the responsibility of overseeing educational activities and managing school operations in their respective areas.
The teachers also urged the authorities to provide scholarships and allowances allocated by the government for students and teachers respectively.
Schools shut down to protest attack on teachers
According to the chairperson of All Nepal Teacher's Union, Baburam Ghimire, the monthly salaries of community school teachers has not been paid for the past three months. “We started protest because we have run out of patience. If the teachers are not paid, this will have a negative impact on the quality of education they impart,” said Ghimire.
One of the teachers at Shree Geeta Mata Secondary School, Ram Prasad Devkota, said the authorities should resolve their problem at the earliest.
Another teacher, Sabita Gurung, who is the principal of Lokhit Basic School, Thamel said the teachers have not been paid for checking the answer papers of the district level examinations. "If they are not paid for their work, how can they continue in the profession?" she asked.
Likewise, Bimala Adhikari, the principal of Bal Vikas Secondary School, Chhetrapati, said the authorities have not released the funds for scholarships, which should have been provided to the schools by May 29.
Although it might take some time to fulfill all the demands, we will request those concerned to clear the salaries by tomorrow [Thursday],” said Kedar Neupane, Chief Administrative Officer at KMC.
