I gave no new affiliation to private colleges: Minister Pokharel

KATHMANDU, Jan 3: Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel has clarified that the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) has not issued any new affiliation to private colleges after he assumed office as minister. 

A press statement issued by Minister’s Pokharel’s personal secretariat on Wednesday also clarified that Minister Pokharel has not tried to influence any of the provisions in Medical Education Ordinance and that he has no different opinion to address the demands put forth by Dr Govinda KC. 

“Since the issue is under discussion in the sovereign federal parliament this will be decided by the respected parliament and therefore it is not appropriate to make false propaganda by adding the name of honorable minister,” said the press statement.

The statement further said that Minister Pokharel has not issued any new affiliation to private colleges under CTEVT and has no such plan even in the future. Minister Pokharel, according to the statement, however, has been stating that the issue of those colleges already receiving letter of intent, developing infrastructures and those recommended by infrastructure monitoring committee need to be settled as per the existing laws of the country. 

The statement said that the ministry has put on hold giving affiliation to run bachelor in computer applications and bachelor in business management programs under Tribhuvan University until further notice. It also further said that Minister Pokharel has no direct or indirect role in decision of Tribhuvan University to grant permissions to run additional programs to some colleges.