Private and government schools across the country remained closed for the fourth straight day on Sunday due to the strike called by the student and teachers’ wing of the Maoists.

With the nationwide closure of schools since last week, Nepalnews asked members of the public their thoughts on it; here is what they said: (Click it)

Around 7.8 million students studying in 35,500 public and private schools have been affected due to the closure. Formal talks between the government and the agitating teachers could not start today as well despite both the sides claiming that they were ready to find a quick solution through dialogue.

Educational Republican Forum (ERF), an alliance of different teachers unions including the All Nepal Teachers Union (ANTU) and Institutional School Teachers Union (ISTU), said it would not talk to the committee led by Laba Tripathi, the spokesperson at the Education Ministry, as no solution would come out of negotiations with the ministry officials. Front leaders said they wanted talks at the higher level.

The Maoist student wing, All Nepal National Independent Students Union (Revolutionary) has also supported the teachers’ strike.

The teachers launched their strike from Thursday saying that the government turned a deaf ear to their demands which include payment to private school teachers in proportion with public school teachers’ salary and appointment letters.