Kathmandu: Two private colleges affiliated to the Tribhuvan University (TU) have enrolled microbiology students without having obtained approval letters from the university to conduct classes for the subject.

Shi-Gan International College of Kathmandu and Sunsari Technical College of Dharan have enrolled microbiology students for the academic year 2011-2012 without receiving approval letters from TU. No college can independently introduce a subject without first receiving approval from their respective universities.


Twenty nine students have enrolled in Shi-Gan International College to study microbiology. Similarly, eight students have enrolled in Sunsari Technical College to study the subject.
The owners of both the colleges say they introduced the subject after getting assurance from Prof Dr Mukunda Prasad Gajurel, the dean of science and technology faculty, TU.

“We enrolled microbiology students after the faculty dean assured us that he would table our proposal at the next meeting of the TU executive board,” said Prof Dr Shib Kumar Rai, principal of the Shi-Gan College.

Lekhi Subba, director of Sunsari Technical College, admitted that his college has enrolled microbiology students without fulfilling due procedures. “We have reached a gentlemen´s agreement with the faculty dean,” Subba told Republica, adding, “We expect our proposal to be approved by the TU executive board soon.”

Interestingly, none of the colleges has even deposited money at the office of the dean. A college needs to deposit Rs 500,000 to introduce any new subject.

When asked why he allowed these two colleges to introduce a new subject without first having their proposals passed by the TU executive board, Prof Dr Gajurel said, “I am sure I will be able to get their proposals passed by the board before the end of my term. Therefore, I verbally allowed them to introduce new subject.”

However, Dr Bwij Raj Bhatta, head of central department of microbiology, TU, said, “No college can enroll students for a new subject without prior approval of the university. A dean can table the proposal submitted by a college at the executive board meeting. But, he may not have final say in approving the proposal,” Dr Bhatta said.

source: republica,11 September 2011