Stop Politicization of University: Kedar Bhakta Mathema

“Due to politicization, Nepal’s higher education is at the verge of collapse,” said former vice chancellor Dr. Kedar Bhakta Mathema talking to Radio Nepal. In his half an hour interview, Dr. Mathema regretted over the government’s failure to appoint vice chancellors in the universities.

“It is unfortunate that all the public universities are without vice chancellors or leaders for months and no political leaders seems to be bothered about the future of more than half a million students,” said Dr. Mathema.

He also expressed regret over absence of prime minister in the 58^th anniversary of Tribhuwan University. Prime Minister Jhalnath Khanal flew to Pokhara to inaugurate convention radio broadcaster association leaving minister of education to attend the anniversary of Tribhuwan University.

“There are high qualities of teachers in Tribhuwan University but the problem is without leadership. If we leave the TU without leadership for long, there will be chaos in the University and the future of students will be uncertain,” said Dr. Mathema.

He argued that the government needs to appoint vice chancellors on the basis of academic performance, commitments and his contribution to education.

He made is clear that universities are not a place for power sharing. “Don’t appoint any vice chancellor on the basis of political ideology. The need of the time is independent academic,” said Dr. Mathema.

“People gave political parties the mandate to write the constitution on the basis of consensus. However, political parties are looting the country by misinterpretation political consensus,” said Dr. Mathema.