Nepal Student Union Criticizes Government's 100-Day Education Promises

Kathmandu. Nepal Student Union (NSU) Chairperson Karuna Katuwal has accused the government of failing to fulfill its promises in the education sector within 100 days. Speaking at a press conference organized on Monday to review the government's 100-day tenure, she stated that the government has been unable to implement its commitments to structural reform in the education sector, end party-based appointments, and ensure university autonomy. She noted that while the government's initial commitments had sparked hope among students, the progress over 100 days had turned that enthusiasm into disappointment. According to Chairperson Katuwal, the NSU has long been advocating for reforms in the education sector and university autonomy. She also accused the current government of bringing an ordinance that infringes upon university autonomy, contrary to the constitution. Despite claims of ending party-based appointments in universities, she asserted that appointments in the Tribhuvan University Service Commission and Tribhuvan University itself are still based on political grounds. The NSU has accused the government of negligence in publishing the SEE and Class 12 examination results in its haste to publish exam results quickly. Chairperson Katuwal stated that the fact that the answer scripts of 1,000 students who applied for re-totaling could not be found mocks the state's good governance. The NSU has evaluated the government's first 100 days as '100 days of missed opportunities'. At the press conference, she said, 'The government's resolve to bring structural reforms in the education sector, end party-based appointments, and ensure university autonomy within 100 days was welcome, and this is an issue the Nepal Student Union has repeatedly protested, but the government failed to implement its promises within 100 days. The enthusiasm students had towards the government has turned into disappointment; the NSU considers the government's 100 days as '100 days of missed opportunities'.' She also mentioned that the two-day weekly holiday has created problems with the credit hours of the current curriculum, putting students at a disadvantage. The NSU has determined that the ban on student organizations in universities is an attack on fundamental rights. Although the Supreme Court ordered that the decision to ban student organizations not be implemented, the NSU accuses the Minister of Education of defying the court's order. Furthermore, the NSU stated that the government is focused on revenue collection rather than improving the education sector, citing the imposition of equal fees in education, which has burdened parents financially. The union has strongly urged the government to bring a school education bill and an integrated higher education bill that are in line with the changing global landscape, national needs, and international standards for the reform of the country's education system.