School staff reject 9-point agreement between govt and teachers

KATHMANDU: The Nepal School Staff Council has publicly rejected the recent nine-point agreement signed between the Government of Nepal and the Nepal Teachers’ Federation, sparking fresh divisions among stakeholders involved in the month-long protest.

The rejection was announced through a joint statement issued by Council Chairperson Gangaram Tiwari and General Secretary Shantinath Yogi. The Council, which represents school administrative and support staff, said it had not been consulted during the negotiation process, and strongly objected to the outcomes of the deal.

According to Yogi, the agreement was reached on the 29th day of the ongoing protest movement, following the Federation’s announcement of a second phase of street demonstrations. The Council, however, criticized the Federation’s abrupt decision to withdraw its agitation after the agreement, saying it betrayed the collective demands of all school-level employees.

“The Nepal School Staff Council fully disassociates itself from the agreement,” said the statement. “Any deal made without our institutional involvement is invalid and condemnable.”

The Council further indicated that it would conduct an internal review meeting to chart its next steps and possibly announce new protest programs. The statement underscores a growing rift between teaching and non-teaching staff regarding the handling of the School Education Bill and related labor rights issues.