DHANGADI, DECEMBER 6

For the second time in a year, Dhangadi Polytechnic Institute was padlocked again today.

The institute is being run by Dhangadi Sub-metropolitan City in partnership with the Council of Technical Education and Vocational Training.

The institute was first padlocked in August this year. Students padlocked it again today.

They have accused Dhangadi Sub-metropolitan City of ignoring their demands even after five months. Students have put forward a number of demands, including setting up of different laboratories and classes to be conducted by subject teachers. The institute is based in Ward No 6, Jali.

Students lamented the hassles they have faced due to lack of laboratories, saying the administration of the institute had ignored the demands they had put forth for months. Besides the lack of laboratories, the institute also lacks subject instructors, drinking water, toilets and canteen facilities.

Earlier, in August, the padlocked institute was opened after Mayor and the institute Chairperson Gopal Hamal pledged to address students' demands. 'We enrolled in the institute after the sub-metropolitan city pledged to teach us at a reasonable price,' student Krishna Tadi said, arguing that the padlock was a compulsion as the local government had started playing with students' future.

Around 200 students are enrolled in the institute in Automobile Engineering, Hotel Management Diploma and Pre-Diploma programmes.

Classes at the institute are running in a building of Bashudevi Secondary School. The building lacks necessary facilities such as fans, lights, drinking water, canteen, and laboratories.

A total of 10 labs are required.

Besides, students lament the lack of full time subject teachers.

A version of this article appears in the print on December 7, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.