KATHMANDU: A delegation from the Nepal University Teachers' Association on Tuesday called on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to submit a 19-point memorandum that sought status of existing universities as central level universities.

The Association has also demanded that universities to be established in the future should be recognised as the provincial universities.

There are presently nine universities run under the investment of the state in the country.

Saying that it was not necessary for the state to open new universities as central universities, the Association suggested that new universities should be established under the supervision of provincial government.

The Association also added that Tribbhuvan University, Nepal Sanskrit University, Pokhara University, Kathmandu University, Lumbini Bouddha University, Mid-Western University, Far-Western University and Agriculture and Forestry University be made  central universities.

Receiving the memo, PM Deuba said that the government was positive towards the demand.

Association Chairman Rameshwor Upadhyay  said, "All provinces should have at least one university as a central university. There will be competition between central-level and provincial -level universities."

On the occasion, Prime Minister Deuba said that he was positive to move ahead on the basis of reorganisation of central and province-level universities to make the higher education systematic.

The 19-point memo demands that salary of TU teachers be comparable to SAARC-level, environment conducive for research be created and  higher education policy of federal Nepal be formulated.

The Association also submitted the memo to Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister, Gopalman Shrestha today itself.