Kathmandu - This week the news and responses on the last weeks’ news of student unions manhandling of the principal of Tri Chandra College for raise in tuition fee while their clear silence in the issue of medical education sector got repeated mentions in the articles and multiple letters to the editor. This week the government had agreed an agreement with the medical institution in the issue of fee return in the last moment, but students rejected the agreement and have denied from returning back to classes. The students do not agree to the terms of agreement which was agreed upon in their absence. On the other hand some news stated that Medical college had started asking for extra fees again from other batches just the same week they agreed to return the additional fees.

-    Medical colleges accused of overcharging students had relented to the government pressure and agreed to reimburse extra money that they collected earlier in the week. Medical colleges reached an agreement to this extent with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology after the government warned it would round up their promoters if they failed to reimburse the extra sum collected from MBBS and Bachelor of Dental Surgery students.  Education Minister had held a meeting that directed the police to arrest college promoters, who do not heed government instruction. As per the agreement, medical colleges will start reimbursing extra funds raised from students in academic years 2017-18 and 2018-19 beginning tomorrow. The money that colleges need to reimburse can also be deducted from students’ fees or other costs payable to academic institutions.

-    Medical students in response demanded changes in the agreement reached between medical college owners and the government. Medical students said the agreement does not specify the deadline to reimburse extra fees the colleges have taken from the students. They say the agreement only talks about reimbursing extra money taken from MBBS and BDS students, but doesn’t mention students of other medical programs. Students have demanded that deadline be given for reimbursement of extra fees. As per the agreement, medical colleges will have to start reimbursing extra funds raised from students in academic years 2017- 18 and 2018-19, immediately. Students, who were overcharged in academic years 2015-16 and 2016- 17, however, will have to wait for some more time to get their money back, as the Medical Education Commission will first conduct a study in coordination with universities before formulating a reimbursement plan. We are doubtful whether the process will begin at all stated a student in a media report adding there is no option than to file a fraud case against the medical colleges and arrest the medical college owners stated students.

-    An opinion article strongly questions the students unions' silence on the issue of students' protest against medical institution's corruption and illegal fee return issue. It also condemned the recent manhandling of principal of Tri Chandra College for raising the fee of courses as directed by the university. The silence of the student wings of political parties indicates to the links between the political parties and medical college operators stated many letters to the editor.

-    An opinion article titled Deplorable conduct stated that the unruly conduct of the student unions has its genesis in the upbringing by the parties that use them for disruptive activities. The assault on the principal of Tri Chandra College by members of the student wing affiliated to the ruling Nepal Communist Party must be censured by all as it manifests the state of anarchy prevalent in government educational institutions.

-    Minister of Education, Science and Technology urged Tribhuvan University to produce globally competent human resource. He expressed more effective role of TU was imperative for the country’s socioeconomic transformation. He pointed out the need of developing TU as a strong pillar for nation building by promoting it as a place of research and academic discourse. The minister, however, admitted that Tribhuvan University was facing quality crisis in terms of imparting education.  He, however, expressed commitment that political activities would be ended at TU as those activities were negatively affecting teaching learning activities and research atmosphere in the university. The Minister suggested new work style to wipe out anomalies at the oldest academic institution of the country. It should be noted that he fails to link the political appointment of the leading positions of the university to the anomalies that he correctly mentioned.

National school theatre festivals begin this week. As many as 129 primary level teachers working on contract at community schools will lose their jobs in Tanahun as new teachers, who had recently passed the Teachers’ Service Commission exam, will replace them. Province 3 Chief Minister stated it was necessary to change the education system of the country calling out to make it techno-friendly and skill-oriented.

The questions about the trust or faith of the society upon the student wings of the current political party can be seen fading away through multiple articles and letters to the editors this week. The statement that it was late for the student unions to correct its path was also stated in one of the matters. This expression can be an indicator to the new political paradigm of the next generation, where leaders will come out of nonpolitical background or likely not from the present student wings of current leading political parties. Its implications in education can be a long road, but the implications of the state of politics in academic institutions on the future of politics of the nation can’t be ignored.

'Education this Week' is a joint effort put to analyze the press coverage of education in Nepal’s selected print media published in Kathmandu. The main aim of this effort is to identify and explain major education issues picked up by the media and give back and foreground of the news. This, we believe, will help policy makers and other responsible people to keep abreast with ongoing concerns and discussions on and around education. EduKhabar, in collaboration with the Center for Educational Policies and Practices (CEPP) , has produced this analysis based on the news printed in Kantipur (Nepali) and The Himalayan Times (English), Dailies and Himal Weekly(Nepali) between Nov 27-Dec 3, 2019 (Mansir 11-17, 2076) - Editor.

Read this analysis in Nepali : चिकित्सा शिक्षाको शुल्क र विद्यार्थी संगठनको मौनता माथिको प्रश्न

Read last week’s analysis : The above law acts of medical college operators and reluctant government

All analysis read by this link : Education This week