Teachers’ show of power in Kathmandu (With photos)
Teachers from across the country took part in the Kathmandu-centric protest called by the Nepal Teachers’ Federation on Thursday.
Expressing 17-point dissatisfaction over the school education bill, teachers from various districts came to Kathmandu to take part in the protest that started from Wednesday.
Teachers from across the country have started an indefinite protest, expressing dissatisfaction over some of the provisions of the school education bill registered in the Parliament.
Though a meeting was held between the representatives of the agitating Nepal Teachers’ Federation and Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayankaji Shrestha and Education Minister Ashok Rai among others, it ended without making a concrete decision.
After no agreement was reached in the talks, teachers took out a rally from Maitighar to New Baneshwor and chanted slogans.
Earlier on Wednesday, around 15,000 teachers of government schools took to the streets by disrupting teaching-learning activities as well as road traffic in Kathmandu in their bid to ‘teach’ some lesson to the government and the Parliament about the possible consequences of ignoring their demands.
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As per the federation, the bill has failed to address issues like job security of temporary teachers, creation of non-teaching staff positions, concerns of pre-school teachers, promotion of teachers, appointment of the principal, transfer of teachers as well as performance appraisal.
The bill’s provision on empowering local units to evaluate and transfer teachers has also not gone well with the federation, which earlier boycotted a meeting that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology had called.
The protesting teachers said that they would continue the protest until their demands are met.
Chandra Bhandari among eight nominated as NC central members
Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has nominated eight persons to the Central Committee.
Party General Secretary Gagan Thapa said that eight persons including Dr Chandra Bhandari were nominated to the Central on Thursday prior to the Central Committee meeting.
According to him, President Deuba nominated them to the Central Committee as per Article 21 (10) of the party statute.
Chandra Bhandari of Gulmi, Shiva Prasad Humagain of Kavre, Man Bahadur Bishwokarma of Arghakhanchi, Arjun Prasad Joshi of Parbat, Kiran Raj Sharma Paudel of Baglung, Bharat Kumar Sah of Rupandehi, Shardha Paudel of Kaski and Anil Kumar Rungata of Parsa were nominated to the Central Committee.
PM Dahal leaving for seven-day visit to China, to address investment conference in Beijing
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is leaving for a seven-day official visit to China.
Issuing a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Prime Minister Dahal is leaving for a seven-day official visit to the northern neighbor from September 23-30.
He is leaving for China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang.
Nepal government’s ministers will also take part in the Prime Minister’s China visit.
The Foreign Minister said that Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud, Drinking Water Minister Mahendra Raya Yadav and Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Prakash Jwala among others will take part in the visit.
Prime Minister Dahal, who is leaving for Hangzhou of China straight from New York on September 22, is scheduled to call on Chinese President Xi on September 23.
The next day, he will meet his Chinese counterpart, Li Qiang.
He will also meet Beijing-based National People's Congress Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji.
Similarly, Prime Minister Dahal is scheduled to address the China-Nepal Investment Conference jointly organized by the Nepali Embassy in Beijing.
Prior to that, he will participate in the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou on September 23.
Prime Minister Dahal is scheduled to visit Chongqing Municipality to observe agricultural and industrial development.
The Foreign Ministry said that the Prime Minister is also scheduled to visit Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
He is currently in New York to take part in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Wrapping up his seven-day visit to China, he will return home on September 30.
Nepali embassy in Islamabad hosts reception on Constitution Day
The Embassy of Nepal hosted a reception in Islamabad to celebrate the ninth Constitution Day of Nepal on Wednesday.
Welcoming the guests to the event and highlighting the importance of the day in Nepal’s history, Tapas Adhikari, Ambassador of Nepal to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, underlined that the Constitution of Nepal includes fundamental principles of democracy, human rights, peace, progress, equality and equity and that we have been celebrating this day as the National Day of Nepal since it was promulgated on 20 September 2015, reads a statement issued by the Embassy of Nepal in Islamabad.
Speaking on Nepal-Pakistan relations, the Ambassador said that the two countries enjoy excellent bilateral relations marked by cordiality, friendship and cooperation. He also highlighted the importance of further expanding and diversify the relations to their potentials for mutual benefits.
Calling Nepal, a hub of mountain and adventure tourism and recalling its natural and cultural beauty and diversity, the Ambassador said that Nepal was fully open to welcome tourists for adventure and various other activities.
Speaking as Chief Guest, Muhammad Sami Saeed, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, conveyed congratulations and best wishes of the Prime Minister and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Government and the Nepali people. The Chief Guest also highlighted the excellent state of bilateral relations between Nepal and Pakistan, the statement further reads.
Similarly, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman Senate Defense Committee, also spoke on Nepal-Pakistan relations and shared his experience based on dozens of his visits to Nepal.
The event was attended by the leader of the opposition in the Senate and other senators, Ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal, former ministers, high civilian and military officials of the Government of Pakistan and former ambassadors of Pakistan to Nepal; Ambassadors/High Commissioners to Pakistan as well as representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations; friends of Nepal, business and media-persons; and Nepali community members.
Earlier in the morning, the Ambassador hoisted the national flag of Nepal in the Embassy premises amidst a ceremony attended by the Nepali community in Islamabad.
The participants exchanged congratulations and best wishes during the ceremony.
