The country´s oldest university, Tribhuvan University (TU), is in the grip of protests by group of teachers and students pressing many similar demands but also some contrasting ones.

Furious that the university departments distributed admission forms for classes going to be conducted the semester system despite warnings to stop the distribution, 12 student unions affiliated to various political parties vandalized two departments-- English and Sociology-- at TU Central Campus on Monday.

The CPN-Maoist affiliated All Nepal National Independent Student Union (ANNISU-R) has been helding discussions with supportive unions. ANNISU-R Secretary Ratna Dhakal said that they would negotiate with TU so that at least some faculties in all the constituent colleges would be brought under the new system.

During talks scheduled by TU officials for Tuesday, the agitating students are set to propose that the student quota be expanded. “Our major concern is over those students who cannot attend class regularly; there must be alternatives for such groups,” he added. However, the “restriction” on form distribution at the central campus would not be lifted unless the dialogue succeeds, added Dhakal.

With the new system, TU has already brought in policy under which students must have regular attendance and complete their project work and assignments, which would carry marks towards the final exam.

Thirteen student unions had agreed on February 10 on the new system as TU had stated that the system would be expanded to all constituent colleges within two years.

Soon after, TU official called the students for dialogue, during which students were to forward various demands. However, the leaders of 12 unions have now united in protest, saying that the university was not prepared.

TU Teachers´ Association (TUPA) picketed the university´s central campus, pressing their 17-point demands, including salary issues and objections to the newly adopted semester system.

Chairperson of TUTA Yogendra Narayan Badbadiya said that the semester system was being implemented without any preparations, and that would not be productive for the students. The protest was also to pressure the university over its failure to provide teachers their increased salary and facilities from the beginning of the current fiscal year.

The teachers are to stage protests till Friday to press other demands such as giving permanent status to 1,380 temporary teachers hired since 2006, and shifting the TU provident fund to the Employees´ Provident Fund.

They have also threatened to stage a hunger strike if their demands go unaddressed.

Published on:  25 February 2014 | Republica