An Important Step

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has named the Vice-chancellors of various universities - an important breakthrough in filling the long persisting gap that was shackling the performance of the higher seats of learning. The appointment of the officials to the universities has ended a row in the academic sector, and the political haggling that was behind it has come to a close, too. It needs no reiterating that the political parties tried their best to maintain their upper hand and decisive say in these appointments, which is said to be the cause behind the delays in taking the decision. In the same vein, it can be said that the absence of consensus and a common position of the key political parties was central in causing procrastination to the whole process. When some attempts were made to take a decision on key appointments in the past, vehement opposition was raised by the Maoists, in particular, that stopped the parties from taking the process forward.

Since the Maoists had not joined the government then, objection raised from their part demanding postponement of the appointments can be justified. But following the paricipation of the Maoists in the government ,the delays in naming appropriate persons to the top positions of the universities on whatever pretext should not be vindicated. The new appointees to the universities, whose names were announced Monday, should assume the mantle with a sense of responsibility and dedication. The universities are host to a range of problems that include the interference of partisan politics in dictating the affairs of the higher seat of learning. The student unions are radicalised, and admission tests have turned a mockery because of the interferences coming from the student unions to take in more students than the institutions can accommodate. Similarly, teachers are also alleged to not doing their bit to safeguard the sanctity of the institution of learning. After long negotiations, the key posts in the universities have been filled. There are other responsible higher level positions for which decision need to be taken soon. Strong academic dynamics need to be created in the ailing universities to breathe new life in the moribund educational sector.

Source: The Rising Nepal, May 2, 2007