Teachers’ Federation Demands Equal Pay and Dearness Allowance, Warns of Protest from Bhadra

Dragon Media Correspondent

The Nepal Teachers’ Federation has demanded that early childhood development teachers, school employees and teachers working under learning grant schemes receive salary increases, incentive allowances and dearness allowances on an equal basis with other teachers and employees.

Announcing the decisions of its third National Council meeting held in Kathmandu, the Federation said the government had discriminated against these categories of teachers and employees by excluding them from salary increases and other benefits in the budget for fiscal year 2083/84 BS.

In a statement issued by Federation President Laxmi Kishor Subedi and General Secretary Tula Bahadur Thapa, the organization also demanded the creation of permanent positions for early childhood development teachers, school employees and learning grant teachers. It further called for teachers to receive local and remote-area allowances equivalent to those provided to civil servants.

The Federation urged the government to allocate 20 percent of the national budget to the education sector in line with commitments Nepal has made in international forums. It also called for the constitutional provision of free and compulsory education up to the secondary level to be fully implemented.

The National Council also decided to demand an increase in scholarships and midday meal funding for students in community schools, along with exemptions from electricity and water charges for schools.

Calling for the prompt enactment of a progressive School Education Act that is friendly to teachers, students and the overall education system, the Federation urged the government and the Federal Parliament to ensure professional security and stability for relief-quota teachers, former higher secondary-level teachers, temporary contract teachers, special education teachers and those working in technical streams.

The Federation also demanded the repeal of provisions introduced through the 10th amendment to the Education Regulations, arguing that the changes had made the teacher transfer system impractical.

On broader social issues, the Federation expressed serious concern over communal violence that began in Kaptanganj of Sunsari and later spread to different parts of Madhesh Province. It called for the restoration of peace and appropriate compensation for affected families.

The Federation also paid tribute to record-setting mountaineer Nirmal Purja and other climbers who died in an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak, while extending condolences to the bereaved families.

The Federation urged the government to implement previous agreements reached with teachers and address its demands seriously. It warned that if the government remained indifferent, it would launch a strong protest movement from Bhadra.