The agitating teachers have agreed to sit for talks with the Education Ministry on Wednesday to resolve the current deadlock in education sector.

In the informal meeting, on Tuesday evening, between Minister of State for Education and Sports Mohan Singh Rathore and representative of Nepal Educational Republican Forum (NERF), which is leading the strike, the two sides agreed to sit for talks.

Earlier, the Forum had refused to talk with the Ministry officials saying they only want to talk to ministerial-level team.

As schools remained closed for the sixth consecutive day, on Tuesday, due to their strike, the ERF had even announced to intensify stir by holding rallies and sit-ins.

At a press meet in the afternoon, Guna Raj Lohani, president of the Forum, said that they will continue their current strike along with holding rallies.

Lohani had deplored the Education Minister for being indifferent towards their demands.

Meanwhile, Minister for Education and Sports Pradeep Nepal has urged the agitating teachers to approach the Ministry. “This is a strange agitation. Neither there is any demand nor issue,” he said. “They have said they will only talk with Minister. Our Minister of State Mohan Singh Rathore is ready to negotiate with them,” he added.

Around 7.8 million students of private and public schools have been affected with the strike.

Various organisations including UNICEF have urged the agitators to withdraw strike as that would infringe upon children’s fundamental right to education.

On Tuesday, Partnership for Protection of Children in Conflict (PPCC) of Save the Children also issued a statement expressing concerns with the prolonged educational shutdown. “It is unacceptable for children’s education to be used as a bargaining chip. Forced school closure is an attack against schools and a serious violation of children’s right to education. (Agitators) must find an alternative to forced school closure when raising their grievances with the government,” the PPCC states.