KATHMANDU, Aug 14: The government has expedited the process of appointing vice chancellors at universities where the positions remain vacant. Prime Minister and Chancellor Balendra Shah has already appointed vice chancellors at Tribhuvan University (TU) and seven other universities.
Prof. Bibek Baral was appointed vice chancellor of Kathmandu University on Friday, while the appointment process at Lumbini Buddhist University has been halted.
At Madhesh Agriculture University, disputes over officials and vacant posts have further complicated the appointment process.
The Ministry of Education and Sports has formed a recommendation committee to select the vice chancellor and registrar of Nepal Open University.
The selection process for the vice chancellor and registrar of Vidushi Yogamaya Himalayan Ayurveda University has also been put on hold.
Vice chancellors for seven universities appointed, take oath
Meanwhile, around 1,600 public posts have fallen vacant following the enactment of a government ordinance concerning the management of dismissed public officials.
Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel said vice chancellors are being appointed through open competition and that there would be no room for political pressure or factional interests in the process.
Pokharel said the government aims to promote meritocracy in universities. However, appointing vice chancellors alone will not be sufficient, as rectors, registrars and deans also need to be appointed.
He maintained that there would be no political interference in the appointments and that vice chancellors would be given the authority to select their own teams.
Students bear the brunt of missing Academic Council
The leadership vacuum is already affecting students. According to TU student Madan Bista, the university has been without an Academic Council for the past three months.
He said the absence of the council, a key decision-making body responsible for matters including curricula, academic certificates and examinations, has disrupted important academic work.
“An Academic Council has not been formed since May 2,” Bista told Republica. “The absence of the main body responsible for decisions on curricula, academic certificates and examinations has disrupted important work for students for the past three months.”
He urged the government to form TU’s Academic Council immediately and resume the university’s stalled academic activities.
A test of the government’s promise
The government has pledged to end political interference in the education sector and make university appointments on the basis of merit. The ongoing appointment process at universities where vice chancellor positions remain vacant will be an important test of that promise.
The government’s approach to appointing rectors, registrars and deans, as well as officials at other educational institutions and the Teacher Service Commission, will further determine whether its pledge to keep politics out of academic appointments translates into practice.
