The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority has barred the local governments from appointing teachers at the government schools citing absence of a legal provision that would allow them to do so.

Acting on a complaint was registered against the appointment of teachers by the Jagarnathpur Rural Municipality in Parsa citing flouting of education regulations, the anti-graft body took a corrective decision and notified the federal government about it.

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration on Wednesday notified all the local governments about the views of the anti-graft body.

The rural municipality chairperson had appointed two teachers Pramod Ram and Nausad Aalam. During their service tenure, they had received Rs241,700 in remuneration within four months. But the District Treasury Office, Parsa, categorised such payment as arrears and promptly lodged a complaint with the anti-graft body.

As per Clause 97 of the Education Regulation, the School Management Committee could appoint a temporary teacher for a maximum of six months, where there is a vacancy. But teachers cannot be appointed in posts where there are no vacancies.

However, Education Secretary Mahesh Dahal clarified that the restriction applies only where the teachers would have to be paid from the coffers of the central government.

“If the local governments can manage resources for additional teachers, the centre does not intervene,” Dahal told the Post.

Local governments are of the view that the anti-graft body cannot put a blanket ban on local governments from recruiting teachers.

“As per the spirit of the constitution, the local government can manage the schools, based on laws passed by the local assembly,” said Hom Narayan Shrestha, president of the National Association of Rural Municipalities, a grouping of rural municipalities. “Recruiting teachers without making laws would lead to the recruitment of party cadres.”

He, however, admitted that such laws should be based on national standards set by the federal government.

According to Shrestha, rural municipalities are facing a shortage of teachers as they prefer moving to schools in urban areas.