The Nepal Education Republican Forum (NERF), a group of seven agitating teachers’ union, has declined to hold any dialogue with the government blaming the latter of failing to implement the tripartite agreement reached with the teachers’ union last month.

The agitating teachers’ union had forced thousands of schools across the country to close down for indefinite period from yesterday demanding permanent status and equal pay for teachers in both government and private schools. They have also put forth several political demands which includes declaring the country a republic. Due to the closure, 7.8 million students (between grade one to 12) of more than 35,500 government and private schools were affected.

To negotiate with the protesting teachers, the government has formed a three-member team headed by Laba Prasad Tripathi, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Education and Sports and have called them for a dialogue today, but the teachers’ unions close to the ruling coalition say they need a ministerial-level talk team and not a secretary-level team.

“NERF is determined to take the protest to greater heights in order to ensure fruitful results in favor of the teaching profession in Nepal,” Baburam Timilisna, founder member of Institutional Schools Teachers Union (ISTU), one of the seven agitating teachers’ union told the Kathmandu Post.

The Ministry of Education and Sports has urged the teachers’ union to call off the strike, adding that the differences can be sorted out through peaceful dialogue. The ministry also said that it is in the process of amending necessary provisions in the Education Act as per the teachers’ valid demands.

During a meeting with representatives of Private and Boarding School’s Organization of Nepal (PABSON) at his Baluwatar residence earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had assured that the problem seen in the education sector would be resolved once the education minister returned to Katmandu from Maldives on Monday.

On Wednesday, Pro Maoist All Nepal Teachers Union (ANTU) and All Nepal Free Student Union-Revolutionary (ANFSU-R) had in a joint statement said, “Although, we are aware that closing down all schools will hamper students’ education, we have no option but to continue with our protest as the government has not acted responsibly regarding our demands.”