Kathmandu, Nepal – In a significant step to address the demands of community school teachers, a parliamentary subcommittee has finalized a report proposing a new law to grant examination opportunities and career stability to thousands of relief, special, and former higher secondary teachers in community schools. The report, submitted to the Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee, seeks to enact legislation enabling 46,000 eligible teachers to compete for permanent positions through a structured examination process.
Key Provisions of the Proposal
The subcommittee’s recommendations include abolishing age restrictions for relief grant, special education, and technical stream teachers participating in the Teacher Service Commission’s (TSC) first limited competitive examination. This move aims to ensure experienced educators are not excluded due to age barriers.
Additionally, the report proposes that 60% of sanctioned teaching posts for grades 11 and 12 be made permanent through internal competition among relief, grant quota, and temporary teachers—a notable increase from the government’s initial proposal of 50% internal hiring. The remaining 40% of positions would be filled via open competition. If internal quotas remain unfilled in a given year, the vacancies would be redirected to the same year’s open competition pool.
Support for Unsuccessful Candidates
Teachers who do not pass the limited competition will still receive financial benefits based on their years of service, as determined by the government. The proposal also safeguards salaries for teachers transitioning to permanent roles, ensuring their pay scale does not drop below their previous earnings.
Expanded Opportunities
Child development facilitators with at least three consecutive years of service and the required qualifications will be exempt from age limits for one-time open competition applications. Meanwhile, permanent teachers with five years of experience in a lower-ranked position may apply for internal promotions if they meet educational criteria.
Next Steps
The report, now under committee review, marks a critical effort to address long-standing demands for job security and equitable opportunities in Nepal’s education sector. If passed, the law could transform career pathways for educators, prioritizing merit and experience while fostering stability in community schools.
Stakeholders anticipate parliamentary deliberations in the coming weeks, with teachers’ unions hopeful for swift enactment to alleviate uncertainties faced by temporary and relief staff nationwide.
