Informal Meeting of Tribhuvan University Senate on Various Issues and Reforms
On 22 December 2024, Prime Minister and Chancellor KP Sharma Oli initiated an informal meeting of the Tribhuvan University Senate to discuss various issues and reforms at the university.
During a nearly three-hour informal Senate meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, representatives from various sectors, including university professors, staff, students, and public campuses, suggested sector-specific problems and solutions.
Prime Minister Oli directed university officials to compile all issues and demands from various sectors and hold further discussions with stakeholders to propose solutions and decisions.
Sensing a growing distance between officials and Senate members during the meeting held in Kirtipur on Mangsir 27, Chancellor Oli scheduled detailed discussions. Senate members expressed gratitude, noting that this was the first time such a meeting had been held at the Chancellor level, allowing them to express their views openly.
After listening to the suggestions from Senate members, Prime Minister Oli urged them to bring proposals to the formal meeting after sufficient homework and consensus. He emphasized that Senators should focus on the main issues of problem-solving and reform rather than public consumption, noting that the discussions from the Mangsir 27 Senate meeting were misrepresented on social media.
Prime Minister Oli clarified that he had no personal gain or loss from the university, stressing that the development, protection, promotion, and progress of Tribhuvan University were shared concerns. He urged everyone to uphold the university's dignity, prestige, and reputation.
Chancellor Oli reminded everyone to maintain transparency in such a sacred institution by publicizing the university's workforce, accomplishments, and goals on its website. "The academic calendar of the university must be followed. Even though this is an informal meeting, it should be considered a directive. There must be transparency in the university. Meritocracy must be maintained. The best should be given the best grades, and those who fail should be failed," said Prime Minister Oli. "My point is that there should be true meritocracy. I don't know how much meritocracy each dean has. Who gets appointed is not my concern; my concern is that this university should be strong and produce capable manpower."
He stated that he does not interfere in appointments, as the officials make the decisions, and therefore, they should take credit for both success and failure. "As the Chancellor, my only concern is that you do well. If this is considered interference, what else can it be considered but surprising?"
He mentioned the need to form a task force to study and implement the report of the committee investigating Tribhuvan University's movable and immovable property, as the report was insufficient and required further study. Prime Minister Oli urged a reconsideration of the relevance of the Tribhuvan University Service Commission if it does not conduct regular examinations.
Education, Science, and Technology Minister and Pro-Chancellor Vidya Bhattarai, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Keshar Jung Baral, and Secretary of the Ministry of Education Dr. Deepak Kafle, among others, attended the meeting.
Tribhuvan University