KATHMANDU, March 9: After assuming office on March 6, the newly-appointed Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Sumana Shrestha, made her first decision to amend the system of appointing chancellor and vice-chancellor of universities across Nepal.
She decided to entrust the legal management of university leadership to academicians. However, her words did not match her actions as she herself holds the position of vice-chancellor of 11 out of 13 universities of Nepal in her capacity as the Minister for Education. She should have stepped down from the post of vice-chancellor if she was true to her words.
On the other hand, the law grants her the authority to alter policies, rules, and laws from school to higher level education. Minister Shrestha highlighted the need to prioritize autonomy of universities amid increasing politicization of higher education in Nepal.
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She stated, “My primary goal is to enact effective legal arrangements regarding the establishment, operation and regulation of higher educational institutions.”
Minister Shrestha aims to initiate steps towards reforming existing university and higher education laws to ensure leadership by academic intellectuals and experts.
Educationist Bidyanath Koirala is of the opinion that Minister Shrestha can present such proposals to the cabinet and utilize her authority as both Minister for Education and vice-chancellor of the universities to make such decisions.
Similarly, in the case of students preferring to study abroad, Minister Shrestha stressed the need for conducting research to find the reasons rather than just making speculations.
“Minister Shrestha has good relationships with non-resident Nepalis, she could collaborate with them for the survey of Nepali students abroad. This survey of Nepali students abroad can help find out the reasons for their emigration,” says Koirala, “Nepali universities and colleges can be transformed according to the results of the study.”
Koirala expressed suspicion regarding Minister Shrestha’s intention to discuss the school education bill in the municipalities, suggesting that she should rewrite the bill based on received suggestions. He added, “Minister Shrestha should not merely amend the bill but rewrite it as a departmental minister based on the suggestions received so far.”
He said that this step is crucial for completing the school education bill, which falls under the work of the minister.”
