Kathmandu, June 10 :

Various academic and administrative problems have cropped up in private colleges and universities in the absence of students’ unions in such institutions, student leaders of various student unions said here today.

The student leaders were speaking at an interaction organised here by the Students Association of the Purbanchal University (SAPU).

Calling for the formation of students’ unions in private campuses and in universities, Ram Kumari Jhakri, chief of the Publicity Department of the All-Nepal National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU) accused the private universities and campuses of concentrating on profit making.

“They don’t want to see the student bodies

interfering in their profit-making endeavours,”

the student leader further said, calling on the students of private campuses to fight for their rights.

“Student politics should not be ignored,” said Kishor Singh Rathore, the president of the Nepali Congress (Democratic)-affiliated Nepal Students’ Union (NSU), adding, “There is a misconception that student politics and student unions would affect the academic environment.”

“Time and again, the student unions have kept track of misdeeds of the campuses and universities,” said Rathore.

Mahendra Sharma, chairman of the Nepal Students Union, expressed solidarity with the protest launched by students against the Purbanchal University (PU).

Demanding that their 15-point demand be met as soon as possible, the students of the Purbanchal University locked out its administrative department a month ago.

Among other demands, the students of the Purbanchal University have been seeking the resignations of vice-chancellor, rector and the registrar of the PU, urging the PU to allow the students to form their councils or unions in all the constituent and the Purbanchal University-affiliated campuses, provide affiliation to those campuses that meet the Purbanchal University-set criteria and effectively and regularly monitor the Purbanchal University-affiliated and constituent campuses.

Calling on the Education Ministry to meet their demands, the students of the Purbanchal University have also submitted a memorandum to the Education Ministry.

Ramesh Silwal, principal of White House Campus, said, “Rather than becoming recruitment centres, universities should concentrate on uplifting the quality of education.”

Dr Rajan Suwal, the campus chief of the Khopa Engineering Campus, said, “The resignation of the vice-chancellor, registrar or the rector alone will not solve the problem. The new officials should not be corrupt and should be visionary.”