Dr Wagley resigns from HSEB committees

Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, July 6:

Most of the colleges in the Valley — especially those under Tribhuvan University and the Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) — remained closed today as part of the educational strike called by the Nepali Language Protection Struggle Committee (NLPSC) to protest the lathi-charge by policemen on its members yesterday.

The strike had, however, no effect on schools.

The NLPSC today organised a protest rally in front of TU Vice-Chancellor’s office, chanting slogans ag-ainst manhandling of dem-onstrators by the police and demanded the TU to denounce the HSEB’s move. NLPSC members are the students of Nepali literature at TU. The students also organised a 15-minute sit-in in front of TU central office.

Khem Prasai, a member of NLPSC, said the schools could not be closed down, as the information was disseminated late yesterday.

Meanwhile, professor Dr Mana Prasad Wagley, member of the Curriculum Recommendation Committee, today tendered his resignation on moral grounds. Dr Wagley said the HSEB should have defended its move rather than blame the committee.

The committee had recommended to shift compulsory Nepali to grade 12 from grade 11. Dr Wagley said he would resign from all three committees he was involved in — Subject Committee, Curriculum Committee and Long-term Perspective Plan.

Meanwhile, Kamal Prasad Lal Karn, member secretary of the HSEB, said: “Curriculum development meeting on the issue could not be completed and will continue tomorrow as well.”

The NLPSC demanded resignation of Nagendra Bahadur Thapa, vice chairman of the HSEB, and other officials who were taking part in the talks claiming that they were responsible for the security of the team talking part in the talks.