KATHMANDU, July 10: Various 13 student unions -- that struck a six-point deal with the Ministry of Education (MoE) last year for phasing out Proficiency Certificate Level (PCL) from the Tribhuvan University (TU) -- has demanded that the government implement agreements reached with them in the past.
In their recent meeting with MoE officials, representatives of the unions warned of fresh protests if the government failed to implement past agreements. [break]
“We will not let TU phase out PCL before the government completely implements the past agreements.” Pradip Poudel, President of Nepal Students Union (NSU), said. According to him, discussions between unions are underway to decide whether to launch a fresh agitation.
“Our views do not differ as far as the need for implementing the past pact before phasing out PCL is concerned,” Poudel said. “However, whether to immediately launch a new agitation is being discussed.” According to Poudel, student unions will interact with professors and other stakeholders before deciding to launch a fresh round of agitation.
In the wake of student unions´ agitation against TU´s decision last year, the government had agreed to establish community higher secondary schools in all 75 districts. Similarly, the government had also agreed to set up model community +2 schools in each constituency before phasing out PCL.
However, none of these promises, according to NSU president Poudel, has been fulfilled so far.
Likewise, the government, as per the agreement, had decided to provide additional posts for five teachers to each community school that ran 11 and 12 grades.
However, the government has been providing only two teachers´ posts. The government has not helped +2 schools upgrade their infrastructure, either. The issue of unregulated fee structures of +2 schools also remains unresolved.
“We want the government to fulfill all these promises before constituent campuses of TU stop enrolling students in PCL,” Poudel said.
The TU, in spite of warnings from student unions, however, seems resolute in doing away with PCL from this year. “The decision has already been made,” TU Registrar Bhim Raj Adhikari told myrepublica.com.
Adhikari, however, maintained that the student unions´ genuine demands should be fulfilled before phasing out PCL. “Their demands are genuine,” he said. “Poor students would not be able to continue their studies if the government does not fix a ceiling for monthly fees.”
Before TU´s decision of phasing out PCL, students could complete high school at a fee as low as Rs 40. But, students now will have to pay more even in community-based +2 schools.
Ram Kumari Jhankri, the president of All Nepal National Free Students´ Union (ANNFSU), which spearheaded last year´s violent agitation against TU decision, however, said that they would not protest the TU decision to phase out PCL.
“Protests over phasing out PCL no longer hold significance,” Jhakri said. “However, our new agitation, if launched, will be against the government´s apathy toward fulfilling its pledges.”