Ilam, May 25

Education in the district has been disturbed due to continuous general strike called by various groups.

Although the government has announced School as Zone of Peace one year ago with a motive to protect students’ rights of education, the various groups have not heeded the government move.

None of schools at village and the district headquarter have opened. All private and community schools have been closed at district.

Lok Bahadur Rai, guardian of Amarkalyan Secondary School stated that education standard in the areas was in a miserable condition although the government has announced schools as Zone of Peace.

Dina Nath Puri, District Education Officer, blamed that because of political parties’ squabble, education standard in the area had gone down. As per the regulation, schools must remain open for 220 days in a year.

But, it’s very difficult to open the schools even for 100 days if the general strikes are called so often, Puri said.

Educational stakeholders urged with protestors not to close the schools down. But, academic institutions have become the main target for the agitators to fulfill their demands.

Pradip Dev, Schoool principal of the Namsaling Secondary School, said the level of students’ education decreased after schools authorities failed to operate classes continuously.

According to INSEC, Tamplejung, during last one month, strikes were called in the district by the Nepali Congress, Federal Limbuwan State Council, Ethnic Indigenous Joint Struggle Committee, All Nepal National Independent Students Union Revolutionary (ANNISU-R), All Nepal National Free Student Union (ANNFSU), Federal Student Union , Nepal Teachers’ Association, Braman Society Nepal.

Apart from the political parties, the disputes among the School Management Committee (SMC) and school administration also witness the closure of the schools in the district and headquarters.