KATHMANDU, Nepal - Teachers around the country are gearing up for a show of strength in Kathmandu next month. This is the second time educators plan to organize such a demonstration in less than two years.

The Nepal Teachers' Federation, an elected body of Nepalese school teachers, is organizing a series of rallies to persuade the government and political parties to support the School Education law beginning with the winter session.

Before traveling to Kathmandu to protest, the teachers will hold protests at the municipal and provincial levels and continue to agitate at the political and administrative levels.

"It's already too late for the law," said Laxmi Kishore Subedi, the federation's chairman. "Without pressure, the bill's endorsement might take even more time."

The protests will begin on Sunday when they present a memorandum to all local governments. On the same day, a local protest mobilization group will be established.

According to the timetable, protest marches will be organized locally on February 12, with teachers wearing black armbands.

On February 14, the agitating teachers will send memoranda to the Education Development and Coordination Unit chiefs in all 77 districts nationwide.

After the administration introduced the law in the federal parliament in September 2023, the federation staged a Kathmandu-centric movement against several bill sections.

Thousands of teachers protested in Kathmandu, interrupting everyday life and compelling the administration to engage in dialogue.

They ended the demonstration after reaching a six-point agreement with the government, which guaranteed to address their concerns by modifying the bill.

Teachers are planning similar protests as the House of Representatives' Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee moves the bill forward.

A subpanel of the House committee is currently deliberating on the bill at the provincial level.

The subpanel has received opposing suggestions on various subjects, including teacher management. Local units want school instructors to fall under their supervision because the constitution states that school education is the sole power of the local government.

Conversely, teachers do not want to work for local governments, saying that they will be treated unfairly based on their political leanings.