Government moves toward ending Prime minister’s role as university chancellor

Dhangadhi: The government has started preparations to remove the prevailing system of having the Prime Minister as Chancellor in universities. Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel has publicly expressed his views on the matter and said that the system is being reconsidered.

During his visit to Sudurpaschim University last Tuesday, he had indicated that the structure of having the Prime Minister as Chancellor of the university and the Education Minister as Vice-Chancellor was not appropriate and informed that a new model was being considered.

Earlier, former Prime Minister Sushila Karki had questioned such a system. Speaking at the Tribhuvan University assembly on 10 Mangs, she had said that it was not appropriate for the Prime Minister to be the Chancellor of all universities. According to her, she had emphasized that universities should be autonomous since one Prime Minister cannot handle the responsibility of all universities.

The previous government had also tried to amend the system through an ordinance on this issue. Although a committee was formed for that, the effort was not successful.

The government's latest preparations have been seen in connection with the autonomy and management reform of universities.