Relief Teachers Present Six-Point Demand Letter to Education Minister

May 10, Kathmandu – The Nepal Relief Teachers Central Committee has submitted a six-point demand letter to Education Minister Sasmita Pokharel. On Wednesday, the committee’s president, Naveen Singh Dhami, formally presented the demands through an official letter addressed to Minister Pokharel.

The letter, titled “Ensuring Job Security and Fair Management of Relief Teachers,” highlights that since 2003 BS (1960 AD), relief teachers working under the relief grant quota in Nepal’s community schools have been serving continuously. It states that government policies and programs have already recognized relief teachers as an integral part of school education.

However, relief teachers who have served for a long time face unnecessary fear, insecurity, and psychological pressure during the recurring six-month contract extensions or renewal processes. The key demands outlined in the letter are as follows:

1. Relief teachers should be regarded like regular contractual teachers under Rule 97 (8) of the Education Regulations, and the repetitive contract extension or renewal process should be discontinued.
2. Special consideration, respect for experience, contributions, and guaranteed job security should be ensured for relief teachers who have served continuously in community schools since 2060 BS.
3. The Nepal government should provide a uniform policy clarity on relief teacher management instead of leaving interpretations to varying local levels.
4. The rights, professional dignity, and fair management of relief teachers should be governed by laws, methods, and procedures based on legal principles.
5. During the development of new school education legislation, the long-term, respectful, and fair management of relief teachers must be guaranteed.
6. Relevant authorities should be promptly instructed to halt any decisions or directives that generate insecurity, uncertainty, or fear among relief teachers.