Kathmandu, March 21

Private medical colleges will have to return money they charged from students in addition to the government-set fees within 30 days and make arrangements so that students who were not allowed to fill out exam form for their failure to pay additional fees could get a second chance to take exam.

A meeting among representatives of the government, Tribhuvan University, medical colleges and agitating students held at Singha Durbar today agreed that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will issue directives to Tribhuvan University and medical colleges regarding the issues, according to an official at the ministry.

The meeting also agreed to form a four-member team to monitor whether the colleges abided by the ministry’s directives. The team will include representatives of the ministry, Nepal Medical Council, Tribhuvan University and medical colleges, according to Ranjit Tamang, president of All Nepal National Independent Students Union (Revolutionary).

The meeting also agreed that the ministry would direct the colleges to ensure security of students while the students would lift padlocks in colleges and university. Infuriated students last Tuesday had padlocked the offices of TU vice-chancellor and dean of the Institute of Medicine for doing nothing to address students’ concerns.

Today’s meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology; TU Vice-chancellor Dr Tirtha Raj Khaniya; representatives of Gandaki Medical College and KIST Medical College and the agitating students.

Students of Pokhara-based Gandaki Medical College have been staging demonstrations for the past 50 days protesting against extra charges.