Jul 18, Kathmandu - Nepal Teachers' Federation (NTF) has given the government an ultimatum to issue the School Education Act within 20 days.

The federation held a press conference in Kathmandu on Friday and gave the government time to issue the act by 21 Shrawan.

"We draw the serious attention of the concerned parties to quickly conclude the ongoing discussions on the bill in the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee of Parliament and submit the progressive School Education Bill, which includes past agreements, to the House of Representatives and have it passed at least before 21 Shrawan 2082," said a statement issued after the press conference.

The federation has claimed that the state is trying to push the movement by deception without promulgating the act.

‘When analyzing the overall situation so far, it seems that the state party is once again intent on betraying Nepali teachers and employees and pushing them towards agitation. This situation needs to end as soon as possible,’ the statement said.

The federation has warned of strong agitation if the bill is not passed by the House of Representatives by 21 Shrawan.

"If the School Education Bill is not passed by the House of Representatives during this period and moves forward or if it moves forward by making arrangements contrary to the agreement reached with the Nepal Teachers Federation, the federation announces that it will launch a stronger and stronger agitation than in the past. The agitation program will be made public in due course", the statement said.

The federation has stated that the state party will be responsible for the agitation and the harsh consequences that will arise from it if the bill is not passed.

The federation demands that the act be issued as per the agreements made in 2075, 2078, 2080 and 2081 BS.

The last time there was a 29-day long educational street protest from 20 Chaitra. And, on 17 Baisakh, it was agreed to issue the act by 15 Ashadha. But the federation is angry that the act has not been issued yet.

The federation is demanding that temporary teachers be made permanent, permanent teachers promoted, departmental action taken, trade union rights granted by the constitution, teacher transfers, management of school employees, management of kindergarten teachers, management of institutional school teachers and staff, resolution of the problems of conflict-affected teachers, and matching and management of teacher posts as per past agreements.