CHADANI HAMAL

Teachers and staff at Birendra Multiple Campus in Chitwan have been repeatedly closing down the college over the last two months, demanding proper management and fulfillment of the required faculty quota, among other things.

TU Employees´ Union has forced a closure of the administrative block for the last two days, putting forth a 9-point demand, which includes immediate appointment of the insufficient number of teachers and staff and improvement of the college´s physical infrastructure.

Students have become the ultimate victims as such strikes have severely hampered the classes and other activities at the state-run college. “I don´t know how will I prepare for the upcoming exams when the campus library is always closed when I reach there. Moreover, some of the students have been able not to fill up the exam forms due to the teachers´ strike,” said Bimala Nepali, Master of Arts (M.A) student.

Besides students coming to take regular classes, others who are visiting the campus to inquire about new admission have been affected too. “At a time when our future is at stake, the campus administration is taking no interest in addressing the issue. The campus chief should take this matter seriously,” said Santosh Singh, All Nepal National Free Student´s Union- Revolutionary (ANNFSU-R) leader. “Solution should be sought through dialogue. Keeping mum will only worsen it,” added Singh.

On July 1, the campus administration had assured the agitating student union to fulfill all the demands but had later retracted, stating that the campus was going through the financial crisis.

“It was this breach of trust that ignited rage among the staffers,” said Indira Adhikari, one of the agitating employees. Adhikari further said that they will be compelled to launch an indefinite strike after September 6, if their demands are not met by then.

Published on: 10 September 2013 | Republica