Teachers’ unions affiliated to seven political parties in Rautahat today threatened to shut all government schools across the district if the fund for textbooks are not released by May 29.

According to agitating teachers, the District Education Office is yet to release fund for school textbooks even one-and-a-half month after the new academic session started in Rautahat. They announced their protest after holding a joint meeting today, informed Jayananda Thakur, Chairman of Nepal Teacher’s Forum, Rautahat.

Chairpersons of Nepal Teacher’s Union, Nepal Teacher’s Association, Nepal National Teacher’s Council, Nepal Teacher’s Forum, Nepal Democratic Teacher’s Federation, Nepal National Teacher’s Organisation and All Nepal Teacher’s Association were present at the meeting.

There are 501 public schools in the district. Classes have been affected due to the DEO’s failure to release funds for text books, the schools said. The DEO officials, however, said their office had failed to release budget on time due to the transfer of district education officer Laxmi Prasad Bhattarai.

The state has allocated Rs 60 million for the supply of textbooks in Rautahat district, said the DEO accountant Govinda Chaulagain. “Though we have received the budget, it can’t be issued without the approval of DEO,” he added.

Published on: 26 May 2014 | The Himalayan Times