The campus chiefs, who submitted their resignations to TU Vice Chancellor (VC) Madhav Sharma, have clearly stated that they would revoke their decision only if either TU or the student unions relent.[break]
"We are trapped between TU and the student unions," said Gopal Chandra Pokharel, campus chief of Ratna Rajya Campus (RRC), who has also resigned. "Our decision to resign is to be rid of this trap."
Backdrop
The crux of the problem is ambiguity in TU´s fee hike for Bachelors and Masters levels. On December 4, 2009, TU reviewed its increased fee structure, under pressure from different student unions. As per the new structure, students of Bachelors and Masters levels pay monthly fees of Rs 250 and Rs 350 respectively.
Previously, TU had proposed monthly fees of Rs 500 and Rs 700 respectively for Bachelors and Masters levels. Though TU and the unions reached a deal, ambiguity lingered over whether it would apply to all students. The unions argued that TU cannot charge hiked fees from students who were enrolled at constituent campuses since before the deal was struck.
TU for its part said the hiked fees can be charged to all students. Nepal Students Union (NSU) President Pradeep Poudel moved the Supreme Court (SC). However, the SC´s verdict only created further ambiguity.
According to NSU President Poudel, the SC verdict clearly stated that TU can charge the hiked fees only for new students, meaning that students enrolled at Bachelors level prior to the deal were not subjected to it. However, TU argues that once students reach the second year, they are treated as new, meaning that they can be charged the same increased fee structure.
Culmination
The campus chiefs´ collective resignation was the outcome of a series of attacks on them by the student unions. On August 16, some students locked up the campus chief of Padma Kanya Campus, Iren Shrestha, in her room. They agreed to release her only after all the campus chiefs promised to resign collectively the following day.
A few days ago, on August 11, RRC Campus Chief Pokharel, along with some colleagues, were dragged out of their offices and locked up in a cellar meant for restoring broken furniture. "We were locked up for hours," he told Republica. "Students verbally abused us."
The campus chiefs who have resigned are, along with Pokharel and Shrestha, Kamal Deep Dhakal (Shankar Dev), Netra Prasad Dhital (Mahendra Ratna), Diwakar Pokharel (Nepal Commerce), Narayan Khadka (Amrit Science), Gita Malla (Public Youth), Rajya Laxmi Khadka (Sarswoti Multiple), Shankar Upadhyay (Bhaktapur Multiple) and Jagat Krishna Pokharel (Sano Thimi).
Of the total 13 TU-constituent campuses in the Valley, three campuses--Patan Samyukta, Tri Chandra and Nepal Law Campus--have given in to the student unions. The remaining 47 TU-constituent campuses outside the Valley have charged all students the same increased fee structure.
Meanwhile, TU VC Sharma has said that the resignations will not be accepted. "We will not withdraw our decision," he told Republica. According to him, even the three campuses that have given in to student pressure will charge the increased fees.
Interviews
Pradeep Poudel
President, Nepal Students Union (NSU)
Why did student unions pile pressure on campus chiefs to resign en mass?
In the first place, we did not put pressure on them at all. In stead, we opted to move the Supreme Court (SC). The SC delivered a verdict in our favor. However, the Tribhuvan University (TU) did not respect the verdict and instructed all its constituent campuses to charge increased fees to old students as well. Instead of sorting out the issue on their own, the campus chiefs chose an easy way out and resigned. This shows their incompetence.
Why did the unions not take up the issue with the TU?
Our problem is of course with the TU. However, instead of simply staying away, most of the TU constituent campuses also charged old students hiked fees. They did not even pay heed to Free Student Unions´ repeated pleas. This prompted us to call the shots.
Is it rational to create a mountain out of a molehill especially after the TU has conceded to the unions´ demand to reduce the hiked fee structure?
We are not against the existing fee structure. It is reasonable. But, it should be implemented only in the case of new students. When students get enrolled, they make plans of spending a certain amount of money. The college can not hike the fees half way through the course.
Diwakar Pokharel
Chief (resigned), Nepal Commerce Campus (NCC), Kathmandu
Why did you, along with other nine campus chiefs, collectively resign?
In our college, office of chiefs, assistant chiefs and accountants have been padlocked for the past one month. We could not distribute admission forms to students preparing to study the second year of diploma. The deadline for submitting forms is already over. Student unions have threatened us to not charge students the increased fees. We consulted the TU authorities. But, they said they would deduct it from our salaries if we did not take increased fees. We are trapped by the both TU and unions. Therefore, we resigned.
Was it not possible for you to find a solution through dialogues?
We tried for months. But, neither the TU nor the unions understood our problem. We were left with no other options but to resign en mass.
Have the students not been affected after the resignation of college officials?
We are careful to not play with the students´ future. But, we simply can not work in such circumstances. A few colleges, under apparent pressure from the unions, have already complied with the unions. It has further complicated the situation.
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