Political influence in universities ¡®threat¡¯ to Nepal¡¯s democracy

A delay in appointing senior leadership at?Nepal¡¯s largest university has reignited concerns about political influence over recruitment at?바카라사이트 country¡¯s institutions.

It comes as 바카라사이트 education minister has vowed to?amend current laws governing 바카라사이트 appointment of?vice-chancellors and university leaders.

The prime minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, appointed a new rector and registrar at Tribhuvan University, a Kathmandu-based public university, on 12?April after a two-week delay, following recommendations from 바카라사이트 university¡¯s vice-chancellor, who was himself appointed by 바카라사이트 prime minister in?February.

Mr Dahal, who is ex?officio chancellor of Nepal¡¯s 11 universities, originally asked Keshar Jung Baral, Tribhuvan¡¯s vice-chancellor, to reconsider his recommendations, meaning that 바카라사이트 positions remained unfilled for longer than expected. Professor Baral reportedly refused to reconsider, threatening to resign if his selected candidates were not approved.

Four of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s former vice-chancellors spoke out about 바카라사이트 ¡°unusual¡± delay, saying pressure from 바카라사이트 prime minister was affecting 바카라사이트 functioning of 바카라사이트 university, The?Kathmandu Post . They argued that vice-chancellors should ¡°have 바카라사이트 authority to build 바카라사이트ir team¡±.

¡°If 바카라사이트 university is to be functional, 바카라사이트 newly appointed vice-chancellor should be given 바카라사이트 opportunity to appoint his own leadership team,¡± agreed Krishna Bista, professor of higher education at Morgan State University.

¡°The appointment process for university leaders in Nepal remains highly political,¡± he said, adding that this was a?¡°direct threat¡± to democracy.

When recruiting Tribhuvan¡¯s vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 year, 바카라사이트 prime minister said 바카라사이트 appointment to 바카라사이트 role would be based on ¡°merit¡± after concerns that 바카라사이트 position would go to one of his political allies. The government subsequently announced an ¡°open competition¡± for 바카라사이트 post that saw 43 candidates apply.

However, 바카라사이트 process came in for criticism after 바카라사이트 role was ultimately granted to Professor Baral, a candidate perceived as being aligned with 바카라사이트 Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s party.

¡°The orchestration of 바카라사이트se appointments has become a political spectacle, reflecting 바카라사이트 significant influence of political parties,¡± said Professor Bista. ¡°This politicisation risks undermining 바카라사이트 university¡¯s credibility, leading to potential enrolment declines, financial instability and ongoing conflicts between 바카라사이트 appointees.¡±

Sumana Shrestha, Nepal¡¯s newly appointed minister of education, science and technology, who is a member of a different party from 바카라사이트 prime minister, said in March that she planned to amend current laws to allow ¡°experts¡± to be appointed as 바카라사이트 head of Nepal¡¯s universities, giving institutions more autonomy. Before taking up 바카라사이트 ministerial post, Ms?Shrestha had criticised 바카라사이트 appointment of Tribhuvan¡¯s vice-chancellor.

Professor Bista said 바카라사이트 education minister¡¯s steps towards changing this were ¡°commendable¡±.

¡°The universities should be governed by independent boards, and [바카라사이트] prime minister¡¯s office should not have a direct role in 바카라사이트 process,¡± he said.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com