KATHMANDU, Feb 16: Students of Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and Information Technology (CSIT) protested in front of the Office of Vice Chancellor of Tribhuvan University (TU) on Thursday demanding proper implementation of the academic calendar and a reduction in hiked tuition fees.
Students in hundreds gathered at the VC's office and submitted a five-point demand to the dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, according to CSIT students. The students' demands include holding exams every six months by maintaining the academic calendar properly, publishing results of each exam within three months, revoking hiked fees, holding supplementary exams within two months of the examinations, and regulating the affiliated campuses.
BSc CSIT graduates are sought-after candidates in the market
The Faculty of Science and Technology of TU held examinations a year ago but the results are yet to be published, said one of the protesting students, Roshan Banskota. "The TU recently hiked fees by 150 percent and TU has been granting CSIT affiliations to private colleges rampantly," he added.
It has been reported that there are about 60 campuses running the CSIT courses across the country. Each of them enroll 60 students per batch.
Issuing a statement on Thursday, the CSIT students said that they initially issued a three-day ultimatum to the TU authorities on February 10 by organizing a protest at Maitighar Mandala. "But the TU authorities are yet to address our demands. So we launched our protest program today," the statement reads.
A section of students had reached an agreement with TU officials on February 13 as part of addressing their demands. However, the CSIT students affiliated to the free student's unions objected to the agreement, according to the statement.
"We were shocked as to why the agreement was done on a public holiday, we are not convinced about the so-called agreement. That is why we continued our protests," the statement added.