The High School Teachers’ Union Nepal (HISTUN) has submitted a formal memorandum to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, drawing urgent attention to long-standing issues faced by teachers teaching in Grades 11 and 12 across community and institutional schools.
The union, representing nearly 30,000 teachers nationwide, emphasized the need for immediate reforms to improve both the quality of school education and the professional conditions of teachers. The memorandum highlights that teachers serving for nearly two decades in the former higher secondary level continue to face unresolved policy and service-related challenges.
Key Demands Raised by HISTUN
- Job Security and Retirement Benefits
Teachers working for over 20 years in Grades 11 and 12, many holding Master’s, MPhil, and PhD qualifications, have not received opportunities for permanent positions through the Teacher Service Commission. The union demands guaranteed continuity in service at their current level and position through appropriate mechanisms. It also calls for dignified retirement packages, ensuring benefits are calculated based on initial appointment dates. - Structural Reform in School Education
The union proposes either reinstating Grades 11 and 12 as a certificate-level program under universities or restructuring school education into two tiers:- Junior Secondary (Grades 9–10) with bachelor-level qualified teachers
- Senior Secondary (Grades 11–12) with postgraduate-qualified teachers
It further suggests making junior secondary education free and ensuring state-supported funding for senior secondary education.
- Social Security and Implementation of Agreements
The union urges the government to enroll temporary and relief teachers in the Social Security Fund as announced in the national budget for FY 2082/83. It also calls for immediate implementation of previously agreed provisions, including remote area allowances, medical support, and accumulated sick leave. - Fair Treatment and Professional Stability
Teachers working under various funding schemes demand fair financial packages upon retirement, resolution of licensing issues, freedom from repeated contract renewals, uniform teaching hours, transfer provisions, and proper institutional hierarchy. The union also highlights unpaid salaries of teachers in Surkhet due to licensing issues and demands immediate action. - Free Education and Teacher Management
Despite constitutional provisions ensuring free education up to Grade 12, students in community schools are still charged high fees. The union demands an end to such practices and calls for additional teacher positions. It also stresses that early childhood teachers and school staff must receive at least the minimum wage as per labor laws. - Job Security in Institutional Schools
The union demands mandatory appointment letters and labor contracts for teachers in institutional schools to ensure job security. It also calls for proper record-keeping by government bodies, transparent scholarship distribution by local governments, and regular monitoring and supervision of both community and institutional schools. - Reform in Teacher Union Representation
The union opposes the current structure of the Nepal Teachers’ Federation, which is influenced by political affiliations. It demands a system where representatives are elected through independent voting by teachers.
The memorandum was submitted under the leadership of HISTUN President Tikaprasad Neupane, who urged the ministry to take immediate action to address these critical concerns and ensure a fair and sustainable education system in Nepal.
View the official letter here:
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