Day: September 21, 2023

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the government to become sensitive to the children's right to take classes at schools, by addressing the rightful demands of the teachers.

Issuing a press statement on Thursday, NHRC Spokesperson Dr Tikaram Pokharel has urged the sides concerned to find out other options than the school closure to get their demands met.

Likewise, the NHRC has cautioned to put forth one's demands, considering the norms and values of human rights and remain aware towards others' rights while using one's rights.

Furthermore, the NHRC has urged the agitating side to resolve the issues through talks and remain alert to the possibility of violent activities in the protest.

The NHRC also urged the stakeholders and Teachers Federation to make the school education related laws more timely through broad consultations and interactions.

In the press statement, the NHRC said its serious attention was drawn to the indefinite school closure from September 20 while expressing displeasure to the new bill on education.

The NHRC has concluded that declaration of Schools as Zones of Peace (SZOP) is affected for the indefinite school closure adding that the closure has violated students' right to get education in a peaceful environment.

Source: National News Agency Nepal

The Press Council Nepal (PCN) has made public the list of dozens of journalists to be awarded and honoured on the occasion of its 54th anniversary.

The PCN made public the list on Thursday.

Those to be honoured are sixteen journalists including Executive Chairman of Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), Dharmendra Jha; RSS Feature Editor Krishna Adhikari, Ramesh Toofan, Kul Chandra Wagle, Ramesh Paudel and Rajan Karki.

Similarly, Nirmala Sharma is entitled to the Gopaldas Journalism Award for this year.

There are sixteen journalists including RSS reporter Bhishma Ojha listed under PCN Active Journalism Award.

PCN Youth Journalism Award will be provided to 19 journalists.

Other journalists listed are for PCN Surendra Bahadur Basnet Award, PCN Courageous Mediaperson Award, PCN Code of Conduct Award, PCN Women Empowerment Award, PCN Inclusion Award, PCN Thematic Award, PCN Literature Award and PCN Language Award.

Source: National News Agency Nepal

Kathmandu, Sept 21: The agitating school teachers held talks with the government at the Home Ministry on Thursday evening.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha; Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Ashok Rai; Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Dhanraj Gurung; and secretaries from the respective ministries attended the meeting on behalf of the government while Nepal Teachers' Federation office-bearers represented the agitating side.

The registration of the Federal Education Bill in the House of Representatives sparked teachers' protest- currently centering federal capital Kathmandu since Wednesday.

The Federation has the demand that the authority to transfer, promote and take action against teachers should not be given to the local level. They present a charter of 17-point demand including trade union rights to teachers.

As a result of teachers' protest, community schools across the nation presently remain closed.

Source: National News Agency Nepal

Foreign Affairs Minister NP Saud has said that mobilization of fiscal tools was an important aspect for the infrastructure development of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Minister Saud said so while addressing the ministers' summit titled "The Summit for Future" in the capacity of the Chair of the LDCs in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

To facilitate the trade related issues of the LDCs, he said that service delivery is inevitable by reforming the trade services.

He also said that international cooperation was crucial to bring about reforms in the economic, social and trade strategies of the LDCs.

Source: National News Agency Nepal