All schools remained closed on fourth consecutive day

All the private and government schools have been shut down on Monday, the forth consecutive day of the indefinite closure across the nation called by the teachers and student unions affiliated to the Maoists.

The closure was announced by agitating private school teachers' groups spearheaded by the Nepal Educational Republican Forum (NERF). Alleging the government of indifference towards its demands, the agitating teachers had announced an indefinite closure from May 19th.  More than 7.8 million students have been affected by the indefinite closure.

The agitating unions said that they would continue strike until the government meets their six-point demands.

Minister for Education and Sports Pradeep Nepal on Sunday said the agitators should sit for dialogue instead of carrying out a strike and disruptive activities to have their demands met.

Upon his arrival from the Maldives, minister Nepal expressed concern over the abrupt strike called by the pro-Maoist unions.

Private and Boarding Schools Organization of Nepal (PABSON) has urged the government to implement the tripartite agreement signed earlier by the education ministry, end uncertainty in the education sector and address the problems of the teachers immediately.

The demands include provision of appointment letters, minimum benefits and annulment of the company act, among others, in order to stop commercialization of the education sector.

The agitating teachers refused to sit for talks earlier with the under-secretary-level talks committee formed by the government in a bid to resolve their problems but the teachers are demanding that a ministerial level committee be formed.