Kathmandu, April 21: Nepali Congress central member and chief of its Education Department, Nain Singh Mahar, said on Thursday that discussions with the agitating Federation of Nepal Teachers (FNTE) are likely to reach a conclusion within a day or two.

During a meeting with representatives of affiliated organizations at the NC party office in Sanepa, Mahar stated that serious discussions are ongoing between government officials, political parties, and stakeholders to address the teachers’ demands.

He warned that continued agitation could disrupt student admissions for the new academic session and impact the upcoming Class 12 examinations, urging both the government and the teachers to act responsibly.

“Millions of students are affected. The government must act seriously, and the teachers must recognize the sensitivity of this moment,” Mahar said.

Mahar, who is actively engaging in internal and external party discussions regarding the draft School Education Bill, highlighted key issues the NC supports:

• Implementation of free education up to Class 12 as per the constitution
• Protection of private investment under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model
• Increasing the education budget by 20%
• Stricter regulation of educational consultancies
• Promotion of technical and vocational education
• Support for teacher demands such as a unified teacher category, state-level facilities, and career advancement

Mahar stressed that the NC is committed to raising education standards and addressing teacher concerns without undermining the quality of education.

“Nepal needs an education system that competes in the global market. For that, we need honest and dynamic teachers,” he added.