LETTERS

Confusing remarks

I was a bit confused by the last part of the editorial “Lingual limbo” (THT, May 8), which says: “ Most of Nepal’s districts do not have a single-language-majority community...” I fail to see how this statement is relevant to the teaching of national languages in schools. Do you suggest that minority languages should not be taught in schools?

If so, in the very next sentence, you point out the need for preservation and promotion of all languages spoken in the country, praising them as “invaluable cultural heritage”. Aren’t the two statements contradictory? The editorial also does not point out how we should preserve our national languages. In my view, the best way to do this is to teach them at school, along with English.

Tisa Tuladhar, Kathmandu

Dirty politics

The posts of the vice-chancellors of the four major universities in the country — namely, Tribhuvan, Purbanchal, Pokhara and Nepal Sanskrit — have finally been filled after a year of vacancy by dividing them among the four major political parties. This has raised some serious moral issues.

Educational institutions should be kept free from all kinds of political interference. Knowledge and competence, not politics, should be the sole basis for the appointment of key posts in academic institutions. But the recent appointments have sent a wrong message to the

public. A question arises: Were there no better candidates, though they might not be affiliated to any of the four political parties, who could do more justice to the administration of the four universities?

The political leaders should keep in mind that they are at the helm of the country to satisfy the needs of the people, not to politicise social institutions for their own benefit.

Educational institutions should be politics-free and be developed with the sole aim of producing competent and competitive manpower in this globalised world.

Rupesh R Khanal, Lecturer, NIST, Patan

Hands off

A country cannot function smoothly without politics. But like everything else, politics too has boundaries. Politics should not be allowed to play a part in the appointment of key academic posts like the vice-chancellors of universities. But the opposite is happening in Nepal. Though the government that enjoys the mandate of Jana Andolan II should have broken the past practice of appointing political loyalists to such posts, the signs are not hopeful. The political parties should correct their wrong ways if they want to build a new Nepal.

Bidhi Dhital, St. Xavier’s College, Maitighar

Exempt them

Many expatriates come to Nepal to work for NGOs/ INGOs in different development areas. In the past, they didn’t have to pay their residential visa fees during their stay in Nepal. But now, every expatriate working with NGO/INGOs are compelled to pay $100 per person per month, including for their children above the age of 10.

The new law discourages them from coming to Nepal and supporting their Nepali brothers and sisters at a time when there is a need to encourage them. I hope the government reconsiders its decision.

Ratan Ale, via e-mail