KIRTIPUR: Various student unions, including those affiliated to ruling parties, today urged Tribhuvan University officials not to implement semester system in TU’s constituent campuses in the Kathmandu Valley.

When TU started semester system in its central departments last academic session which began in January last year, it had decided to implement semester system in constituent campuses in the Valley from this academic session.

TU had opened admission forms for entrance examination in semester system for campuses in the Valley on December 16. But students, who have been opposing the semester system, had halted form distribution in most of the Valley campuses including Ratna Rajya Campus, Pradarshani Marg; Nepal Commerce Campus, Minbhawan, Patan Multiple Campus, Patan; Mahendra Ratna Campus, Thahachal. The agitating students are putting pressure on TU to withdraw its decision to implement semester system in constituent campuses in the Valley.

A delegation of various student unions led by Nepal Students Union, which is affiliated to the Nepali Congress, and All Nepal National Free Students Union, affiliated to the CPN-UML, had met TU officials including vice chancellor, rector and registrar and deans of various faculties, urging them to not implement the semester system in Valley campus this year. They also requested the officials to first improve the infrastructure and curriculum in central departments that are running classes in semester system.

According to the agitating student unions, a large number of students will be deprived of higher education if the semester system is implemented in all Valley campuses as there will be very few quota for students in semester system compared to unlimited number of seats in annual system.

“Though the meeting ended inconclusively, we have served a deadline to TU to come up with a decision of postponing the implementation of semester system in Valley campuses,” said UP Lamichhane, Spokesperson, NSU, today. Referring to students forced to study in private Plus Two colleges after TU phased out the proficiency certificate level, Lamichhane said, “If semester system is implemented in the Valley where more than 100,000 students study, majority of students will be deprived of higher education in government-funded university which is against students’ right to education.”

He noted that TU had failed to implement the agreement reached with students last year before implementing semester system in TU central departments.

“The curriculum has not be updated and attendance also has not been counted in the central departments where classes are being run in semester system,” he said, adding, “We had also agreed to begin classes in Open and Distance Learning Mode for the students who cannot attend regular classes. But the agreement is yet to be implemented.” Prof Guna Nidhi Neupane, Rector, TU, said implementing semester system in Valley campus has become a difficult task as students are vehemently opposing the decision. “They have also warned of protest,” he said, adding TU will soon hold discussions with all concerned to come up with a decision.

source: the himalayan times,1 jan 2015