ISTU places three day ultimatum to resume online classes

Kathmandu: Teachers have criticised the decision of private schools to suspend the online classes.

Issuing a press release, Institutional School Teachers’ Union (ISTU) said that the decision of private schools to suspend online classes has violated the students’ right to education.

“The private schools have not given their salary to the teachers from the last six months. Now, the decision to give unpaid leave to the teachers is shortsighted decision and extremely frustrating for teachers” said Hom Kumar Thapa, president of ISTU.

ISTU has given three days ultimatum to National Private and Boarding Schools’ Association, Nepal (N-PABSON) and Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation, Nepal (PABSON) to resume online classes. President Thapa said that ISTU members will do lobbying with concerned stakeholders in these three days. “Even then, if the schools do not withdraw their decision, we will lock the central office and protest in front of government offices,” said President Thapa.

All the educational institutions are closed since March 24 for prevention of corona infection. The schools, however, started online classes from June 15 after the government gave permission to organize e-classes.

PABSON and N-PABSON recently gave unpaid leave to all the teachers reasoning that the government did not fulfill their demand. Hem Raj Khatiwada, president of ISTU, Jhapa said that giving unpaid leave to teachers during a pandemic is against the labor act.

ISTU members have already submitted their ultimatum to PABSON and N-PABSON. The teachers are determined to organize a nationwide protests if their demand is not fulfilled within three days.