Employ them all

Part-time lecturers have for long been demanding that they be allowed to work on contract basis. Interestingly, the TU allocated 900 teachers’ contracts at first but under heavy pressure from the disgruntled lecturers, an extra 480 were belatedly added. However, even now a large number of part-time teachers have been left out, and they have been compelled to protest in the TU Central Campus, Kirtipur compounds.

The TU administration and the government should understand that part-timers are no burdens, and instead have been instrumental in producing capable

manpower for the country. Many campuses in remote areas would have to be shut down were it not for part-time lecturers. On the other hand, the dream of building a new Nepal will

remain unfulfilled if the practice of the concerned authorities to judge lecturers as ‘helpless’ labourers continues in today’s era of knowledge-based economy. It is high time the

government gave all part-time teachers a chance to work on contract basis. In short, the ‘republican’ government should immediately end the practice of neglecting part-time lecturers.

Rupesh R Khanal, Lecturer, Bhaktapur M Campus

In bad taste

I do not like the way some politicians and media outlets are now referring to former King Gyanendra Shah, his mother, and his grandmother by their first names. Just because they have now become ‘commoners’ doesn’t mean that these politicians and media persons can forget decency. Even common people are shown a modicum of respect by addressing them by their surnames. We should show some respect for the former king and his family, if not as royals, then as commoners.

Shalini Mathur, via e-mail

No good

Most of the institutions in every sector have various political organisations working in the guise of ‘associations’ of employees. But these associations merely give political support to the employees and do nothing to discipline and control the activities of their members. These bodies will be carrying out their duties only when they work for the benefit of both their

members and the public.

Manoj Thapa, via e-mail

A blot

It was agonising to watch Roger Federer humbled by Rafael Nadal at the French Open tennis tournament for the fourth consecutive year. The Sunday final was the worst performance by

Federer in a Grand Slam match. Each year, Nadal seems to be getting stronger on clay court while Federer’s dream of winning all four Grand Slams now looks improbable. I remember how Pete Sampras struggled to get the one title that eluded him as his best years wound down. Sampras may have gone down as the best tennis player ever if he had won the French. No matter how many Slams he wins, Federer will have to add the French title to his list if wants to be remembered as the best tennis player ever.

Suraj Rajbhandari,

via e-mail

Right on

The FNCCI is right in asking the government to hike the price of petro-products. The country cannot afford to distribute subsidised oil while running losses in billions every month.

Mohan Nepali, Teenkune