Twelve students unions on Monday vandalised two central departments in protest against Tribhuvan University 's (TU) plan to implement semester system at the master's level.

The union affiliates smashed the windows of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, as well as those of the English Department, claiming that the unions were not consulted on the matter.

The unions have launched joint protests against the TU decision to limit the introduction of a semester system to its central departments starting this year. However, student unions have demanded the programme be introduced in all TU affiliated colleges. They argue that TU should continue with an annual system until the infrastructure is developed in all colleges offering courses at the master's level.

The unions on Sunday had warned all department heads not to start the admission process without fulfilling their demands.

Though the university has already called for applications from students, the process has been stalled due to the protests.

The TU Executive Council has called on agitating unions to voice their differences through dialogue.

"We will try to sort out problems through dialogue," said Ranta Dhakal, general secretary at All Nepal National Independent Student Union-Revolutionary.

Meanwhile, Tribhuvan University Teachers' Association (TUTA) staged a sit-in at the university's central office, Kirtipur on Monday saying that TU had failed to implement previous agreements.

Yogendra Narayan Badabariya, chairman of the Association, said that they were compelled to stage the sit-in as agreements reached between the Campus Administration and Association had not been acted on even after six months. The agreement includes provisions for promoting TU teachers regularly and giving permanent status to TU teachers working on a contract basis.

source: the kathmandu post,24 feb 2014