KATHMANDU: The Nepal Students Union (NSU) has accused the current government of interfering in universities and undermining academic autonomy.
At a press conference held in Kathmandu on Monday, NSU criticized the government’s 100-day performance review in the education sector, alleging that the introduction of 15 university-related laws at once violated the principle of separation of powers.
The student wing of the Nepali Congress claimed that although the report of the Education Service Commission had proposed the formation of a “Board of Trustees” for appointing vice-chancellors, the government bypassed this structure and instead centralized appointments under the Prime Minister’s authority, creating what it called a double standard driven by political bargaining.
NSU President Karuna Katwal said the government’s interference in the education sector had turned its 100-day tenure into a “lost opportunity of 100 days.”
She also praised the government’s action against 398 Tribhuvan University professors who were found to have misused study leave, resulting in the recovery of Rs 132.6 million for the state.
However, she said the government had failed to address key issues such as students’ fundamental rights and equitable education fees.
Katwal added that while the government’s policy of publishing exam results within 60 or 40 days was commendable, rushed implementation had led to errors in grading, affecting a large number of students.
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