Kathmandu, September 13

Former education ministers have said they were dismayed by the increasing politicisation of the education sector.

Speaking at a public debate on ‘Universities and Political Sharing’ organised by Nepal Student Union in Kathmandu today, they called on the government to immediately put an end to political interference in the education sector. Former ministers also stressed on the need to shun tendency and culture of appointing office-bearers of universities on the basis of political seat-sharing.

Former education minister and Nepali Congress leader Arjin Narsingh KC warned that growing political intervention in academic institutions was detrimental to quality education in the long run. “The practice of political appointments of office-bearers at universities has crippled the education sector. It is the need of the hour to end such malpractice,” he said.

He also blamed his party for establishing the culture of political seat-sharing in academic sector. “I raised voice against such practice when I headed education portfolio in the Cabinet, but to no avail. I also made efforts to dissolve the NC-aligned Nepal Teachers’ Union,” KC recalled.

He appealed to all, including the student unions, to exert pressure on the government and political parties to end the culture of political seat-sharing in academic institutions. KC urged the officer-bearers of universities and other academic institutions to act fairly after being appointed to the posts.

Former education minister and Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Lawmaker Dinanath Sharma also recalled his failed attempt to stop political appointments at universities when he took charge of the education ministry. He expressed concern about deteriorating condition of education sector and said that a campaign should be launched to end the bad practice. “When I was education minister, I did not let anyone to bring politics into play during the appointment of vice-chancellor in Kathmandu University. For this, I had to face criticism and pressure from within my party,” Sharma said.

He stressed the need to prepare a roster of academicians for appointment of office-bearers at universities on the basis of their qualification, capacity ad experience. “We can choose right candidates from the roster of academicians,” he suggested.

Former lawmaker and political analyst Hari Roka alleged that student unions were also equally responsible for the pathetic condition of universities. “Now the student unions should improve their conduct to prevent the universities from leading to nowhere. The government should also act in a responsible manner,” he said.

NC leader and outgoing NSU general secretary Kundan Kafle laid emphasis on contemporary amendment to the existing education laws and polities to pursue reform in academic sector.

“The government should move ahead to replace the existing Education Act with new one and form an independent commission to appointment qualified persons as office-bearers at universities,” he said.