Teachers close to various political parties from schools and universities are on regular protest putting forth various demands including shares in appointments and permanent status to temporary teachers.

Nepal Progressive Professors Association (NPPA) close to CPN-UML and Nepal Loktantrik Professors Association (NLPA) close to Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik have been padlocking the offices of vice-chancellor and dean offices from five universities saying that the Nepali Congress unilaterally appointed the VCs.

Nepal Teachers Federation, an umbrella body of over a dozen of teachers association, is on continuous protest demanding resignation of Education Minister Chitra Lekha Yadav claiming that she took no efforts in implementing several agreements forged with various teachers unions in the past.

The Federation has also been blaming Yadav of failing to play a constructive role in formulating Education Act, a must to resolve the existing problem in the school level. Though the Federation was called for dialogues by a committee headed by spokesperson of the education ministry Hari Lamsal, the Federation rejected the proposal saying it was no use holding talks with a joint secretary. “We want the issue to be resolved through talks but government is not serious,” said Tilak Kunwar, general secretary of the Federation. He said they will not participate in the function of the ministry for Education Day on Monday.

Likewise, vice-chancellors of five universities are yet to assume office, two weeks after their appointments, due to the protest from NPPA and NLPA. The NPPA and NLPA on August 24 had padlocked administrative departments of five universities expressing its dissatisfaction over the appointments. It vows the padlock will continue unless Nepali Congress corrects the ‘unilateral’ appointment of the VCs. On August 23, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, as the chancellor of the varsities, had appointed VC in five out of seven universities, among them four are close to NC while one is close to UCPN (Maoist).