KATHMANDU: Lectures of journalism and mass communication expressed serious concerns about the decreasing number of students in the sector in the recent times.

Most of the participants of the greeting exchange programme of the Dashain, which was organised on the premises of Madan Bhandari Memorial College (MBMC) at Ratopul, expressed concerns over the decreasing number of students in the journalism field in the private colleges. “Many higher secondary schools have stopped admission of Journalism and Mass Communication in Grade XI. While, other colleges have not taken admission in the Bachelor level as well,” said Suman Acharya, a lecturer.

They also lauded the need of one forum of the lectures of the journalism and mass communication to promote its education in the nation. Acharya also urged the lectures to campaign for the recruitment of journalism graduates at all the government offices either in the post of spokespersons or information officers.

Laxman Dutta Pant, head of the journalism and mass communication, National Integrated College, said the students of journalism had abundant opportunities and scope in the country as many big business institutions and firms had begun recruiting media graduates in their offices. He said the curriculum should focus more on the part of communication rather than journalism as every student could not pursue the job of a reporter.

Associate Professor Nirmal Mani Adhikary discussed on various problems of the journalism teachers in the country. He said the teachers were working without appointment letters and for meagre salary. “This profession is yet to be established as the lectures cannot eke out their living with this profession,” he said.

The participants also discussed the change in curriculum, unethical practices, writing international standard textbooks and professional security of teachers and journalists alike, among others.

Principal of MBMC Chaitanya Sharma said the college was preparing to launch Master’s level education of Journalism and Mass Communication under the Tribhuvan University for the first time.