Government pushes to free universities from political grip
Summary
The Nepalese government is committed to ending political control over universities by replacing the prime minister, currently the chancellor, with academics to improve university autonomy and academic standards.
Key Points
- Nepal's universities have long been politicised, with the prime minister traditionally serving as their chancellor.
- The current education ministry led by Mahabir Pun aims to remove the prime minister from the chancellor role and appoint academics instead.
- A higher education bill is being drafted to formalize this change, with proposals for a board of trustees to govern universities.
- Experts and officials believe this move will significantly improve university autonomy and academic quality, ending decades of politicisation.
