KATHMANDU, April 3: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is reportedly creating pressure on Kathmandu University (KU) authorities to issue affiliation to Jhapa-based B&C Medical College, which is owned by a Maoist leader.
Minister for Education Dhani Ram Paudel on Monday admitted that the ministry initiated the process for granting affiliation to the college as per the instruction of PM Dahal.
Medical Education Commission grants affiliation to B&C Teaching...
The undue pressure is against the deal reached with Dr Govinda KC on December 5. As per the deal, the government had pledged not to grant affiliation to any new medical colleges until a new Medical Education Act comes in place.
The MoE on December 7 had forced Nepal Medical Council (NMC) to write a letter of recommendation, stating that the B&C Medical College meets the preliminary requirements to be affiliated to the university, a source at the NMC told Republica requesting anonymity.
Following pressure from Education Minister Paudel, the NMC - a monitoring and regulatory body of Nepal's medical sector - issued no objection to B&C Medical College to receive affiliation to the university. The medical college is owned by Maoist leader Durga Prasain.
According to Minister Paudel, the file was forwarded to the KU a month ago as per the PM's direction.
Dr KC had warned the government not to issue any affiliation before endorsing a new Medical Education Act.
