MPs urge govt. to create environment for teachers to return to school

KATHMANDU: Members of Parliament have drawn the government’s attention towards creating an environment for the community school teachers, currently staging protests in Kathmandu, to return to their workplace.

Speaking during the emergency session of today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, they said that it was unfortunate that clashes have occurred during peaceful protests by teachers and that excesses towards the teachers should be stopped.

The MPs have also demanded that the government to create an environment for teachers to return to school by enacting the School Education Act. Janardan Sharma of CPN (Maoist Center) said that the government should show readiness to address the demands of teachers.

He strongly condemned the incident that took place on Sunday where dozens of teachers were injured with police using water cannons and batons against the teachers staging peaceful protest. Sharma stressed that the state should enact a law to fulfill the legitimate demands of teachers, and also demanded that the agreement reached between the government and teachers in the past be implemented.

Rastriya Swatantra Party MP Sumana Shrestha demanded that the government immediately fulfill the just demands of the teachers. She drew the government’s attention to creating an environment for the teachers to get back to school as soon as possible, as children were being deprived of education. She also condemned the attack on journalists covering the protests on Sunday.

Likewise, Rastriya Prajatantra Party MP Roshan Karki said that the suppression and use of water cannon and batons by police against the teachers was unfortunate and demanded that the government fulfill the teachers’ demands. She condemned the attack on journalists during the teachers’ protest.

On a different note, she also demanded that the legitimate demands of the resident doctors be addressed as soon as possible. CPN (UML) MP Surya Bahadur Thapa Chhetri expressed sorrow over the incident that took place on Sunday during the teachers’ protest and demanded that the government prevent such incidents from recurring.

He drew the attention of the teachers to carry forward their programs of protest and dissent with restraint and of the security personnel to conduct themselves with restraint. He demanded that the Education Minister inform the parliament about the progress on the School Education Act.

Tshiring Damdul Lama (Bhote), of the CPN (MC), said that the recent floods in Humla have caused great damage in various areas of the district and demanded relief and compensation for the flood survivors.

Aam Janata Party MP Prabhu Sah said that the hailstorm coupled with winds and rain last night destroyed maize, mango and other crops in Bara, Rautahat and other districts of Madhesh Province, and that electricity and communication were also obstructed. He drew the attention of the government to provide relief to the affected farmers and to resume the disrupted services as soon as possible.

Independent MP Dr Amresh Kumar Singh called for attention to managerial reforms of the school in Basbariya, Sarlahi. MP Ranendra Barali demanded that the demands of the teachers be addressed and the ongoing discriminatory incidents against Dalits be put to an end.

MP Kantika Sejuwal wished speedy recovery of the teachers and security personnel who were injured in the clash that took place between the two sides during the ongoing teachers’ protest in Kathmandu on Sunday.