Kathmandu, April 27 -- Talks between the government and school teachers, held nearly a month after the agitation began, ended inconclusively on Saturday after the protesters stuck to the promulgation of the School Education Act as their bottom line.

Newly appointed Education Minister Raghuji Pant discussed with the representatives of Nepal Teachers' Federation, following Thursday's Supreme Court ruling to ensure that teaching-learning activities commence within three days.

"We informed him about our demands. Teachers will not return [to schools] without the Act," said Laxmi Kishor Subedi, the federation's chair. "There was no agreement today [Saturday], but we have agreed to sit at the table again." The next meeting has not been schedul...