KATHMANDU, Aug 1: Former Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Sumana Shrestha, has hurled a barrage of questions at Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
On Thursday, Shrestha, also a Member of Parliament from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, took to Facebook and asked a slew of questions regarding PM Oli’s decision to halt the Policies and Programs, 2081, of Tribhuvan University (TU).
“Why did you halt TU’s Policies and Programs? Is it to please your activists at the university or to benefit students and dedicated professors?
Ex-minister Sumana Shrestha questions PM Oli’s competence
She said that the Policies and Programs that she had brought during her tenure had undergone various levels of review and were diligently prepared by TU’s academic team. She asked PM Oli “is there anything that displeases you?”
“Is there a sense of arrogance in the Chancellor’s claim that he can do a better job than the university's academic team? Such political interference further clarifies that political figures should not hold the position of university Chancellor,” she said.
What will happen next? How long will it take to create new policies and programs? What negotiations are necessary to prevent delays, and what positions are being sought? Is the university merely a tool for the benefit of its political workers, while other professors and students remain passive observers? she asked.
She also said that she will monitor how long it takes to pass new policies and programs and any changes that occur.
She reminded PM Oli of his previous statement saying the PM does not need to be the Chancellor.
“Your own youth leaders have provided examples of how political parties have negatively impacted education in the country. You have also stated that you do not want political appointments yourself. Now, will the public trust your words or not?” she asked.
PM Oli halted the issuance of the Policies and Programs of TU for the year 2081 on Tuesday.
