Politics – a cancer that has eroded the very heart and soul of our university, damaging its quality, reputation and heard-earned legacy – must be removed from the academic sphere
Tribhuvan University (TU), established in 1959, was once the pride of Nepal – a model institution celebrated nationally and respected internationally. It was more than a university; it was a beacon of academic excellence that attracted students from across the country like butterflies to light. For decades, TU served as a launching pad for Nepal's most talented minds – producing graduates who would go on to lead in government, the private sector, academia and beyond.
It was a revered institution where knowledge aligned with purpose, and ambition was guided with clarity. TU was synonymous with transformation, giving students the tools not just to pass exams, but to succeed in life and contribute meaningfully to society.
Sadly, over the years, its prestige has faded, and its promise has dimmed. TU is often criticised for producing graduates who lack creativity, critical thinking and employable skills. The learning environment has become uninspiring – characterised by outdated curricula, overcrowded classrooms, disengaged faculty and bureaucratic stagnation. Research and innovation, once hallmarks of great universities, are now sidelined. The government, too, appears indifferent.
Meanwhile, the global standing of TU continues to slide. According to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, TU ranked in the 1201-1500 band in 2024 but dropped to 1501+ in 2025. At the same time, the number of students seeking No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to study abroad has surged – 92,648 students in 2081/082 alone.
The fundamental purpose of education is to develop problem-solvers who can adapt, grow and innovate. But TU's graduates often struggle in the real world. They pass exams but often fail in real-life. They possess certificates, but not confidence. They invest over two decades in education only to face rejection, disappointment and disillusionment. As a result, many choose to leave the country, abandoning hope of building a future here.
This crisis is rooted in decades of mismanagement. Nepal's higher education system has lacked a progressive vision since the Panchayat era. While the monarchy once used education as a tool for glorification, later governments have allowed universities to drift, influenced more by donors and politics than national needs. Today, TU is plagued by padlocking, gheraos, strikes and political interference. Student wings, faculty unions and administrative staff – all linked to political parties – frequently paralyse academic activities to push their narrow interests.
The vice-chancellor, once a respected academic leader, is now often a political pawn. Appointments and promotions are decided not on merit but on party quotas. Even university assets have been misappropriated by politically-affiliated groups. The absence of accountability has led to moral decay, and the silence of the government signals complicity rather than concern. In such an environment, how can students be expected to thrive? How can innovation flourish?
Globally, universities are transforming rapidly – embracing technology, encouraging research and aligning curricula with the demands of a changing world. TU, in contrast, remains stuck in the past. Students are still taught with chalkboards and outdated textbooks, often by lecturers uninspired by their own teaching. A rigid academic structure leaves little room for creativity, critical thinking or skill development.
What Nepal needs is an education system that is forward-looking and purpose-driven. We need teaching rooted in relevance, classrooms infused with technology, and learning grounded in research and collaboration. Teachers must be motivated, respected and empowered; curricula must be updated, and institutions must follow academic calendars strictly.
Importantly, these reforms don't require massive foreign aid or extravagant infrastructure. They require commitment, discipline and leadership. Nepal doesn't lack potential-it lacks focus. It doesn't lack youth – it lacks a system that can empower and retain them. It doesn't lack money – it lacks vision.
If we cannot retain our youth, we cannot expect national development. Those who remain are trapped in a slow decline, like frogs in boiling water, adjusting to worsening conditions until they either leave or surrender to despair.
Politics – a cancer that has eroded the very heart and soul of our university, damaging its quality, reputation and heard-earned legacy – must be removed from the academic sphere. What should be a space for knowledge has become a battleground for power and profit. Student unions once meant to represent learners have now become tools of disruption. Government posts are distributed like spoils of war. This is not democracy – it is decay.
Democracy has become a cover for rampant corruption and looting. True democracy requires accountability and informed participation. If citizens vote based on party loyalty or personal gain rather than competence and integrity, they become complicit in the decay. As the saying goes, "A people who elect corrupt politicians are not victims but accomplices."
We must all rise above self-interest and reclaim our university. The government must show the courage to grant TU autonomy – free from political interference, but with strong accountability. An independent, empowered academic leadership must be entrusted to lead reform. We must foster public-private partnerships and establish a national think tank for evidence-based policy and educational innovation.
Rebuilding TU's glory is not a dream – it is a necessity. It demands a bold vision that places students at the centre, respects teachers and values research. It requires us to stop treating education as a means for political control and start treating it as the foundation of national prosperity.
TU can still be restored. Its golden days can return – but only if we act now. Let us remember: if winter comes, can spring be far behind?
Dr. Gnawali is the Principal of Universal College, Maitidevi, Kathmandu
