KATHMANDU, DEC 13 - Tribhuvan University (TU), which churns out 90 per cent of the country’s graduates every year, is grappling with serious financial and academic crises, Professor Dr Mahendra Singh, TU’s Rector, conceded here today.
Talking to reporters at a press meet, Professor Singh said the problem was caused by the decreasing volume of grants provided by the government and partly compounded by the declining standards of education.
“TU is now passing through the worst phase in its 44 years of history,” he said.
He added that the government allocated only 55 per cent of the total budget required for this year.
“We have not been able to introduce modern courses such as IT, biotechnology and other employment-oriented courses offered worldwide,” he elaborated.
Later, talking to The Kathmandu Post, Rector Singh said that right from the time of the enrolment of students to the publication of their results at the end of the year, the entire process was full of problems and anomalies.
“If this continues any further, we are sure to lose in an increasingly competitive world,” he said.
Seeking feedback, the TU administration is organising a two-day consultation seminar on December 15 and 16 on the theme, “Role of TU in Nepal’s Higher Education: A Challenge”.
Representatives of political parties, student organisations, human rights organisations, educationists, professors and lecturers have been invited to the meet for their recommendations for reforms in the country’s pioneer university.
Meanwhile, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has constituted a five-member ‘taskforce’ under the coordination of Professor Upendra Bahadur Pradhananga to draft a law on improving the quality of higher education.
Issuing a statement today, it said that the UGC had strongly felt the need of an “Umbrella Act” to govern the higher education sector to improve its standards.The decision to this effect was made at a meeting held by the UGC today.
The taskforce has the mandate to draft a law on higher education, including the private universities, and submit it to the UGC, it said.The task force has been asked to submit its report within two months, the statement further added.Posted on: 2003-12-14 02:32

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