Lawmaker Khanal Calls for Keeping Universities Free from Student Politics

Shishir Khanal, a Member of Parliament representing the Rashtriya Swatantra Party, has emphasized the importance of keeping universities free from student politics. He cited a recent incident at Pulchowk campus as a reason for this stance, where a student union leader threatened and kidnapped professors in an attempt to lower tuition fees.

In a recent special session of the House of Representatives, MP Khanal highlighted the insufficient state investment in higher education and argued that student organizations should focus on advocating for increased state funding to ensure quality education at affordable rates. He pointed out that the tuition fee for the four-year Bachelor of Engineering program at Tribhuvan University’s Institute of Engineering Studies has remained unchanged since 2055. Khanal posed the question, “Can we expect to receive quality engineering education for the same fee today?”

Furthermore, he questioned whether students should resort to threatening professors or their party leaders as a means of protest. Khanal suggested that students direct their concerns towards their party leaders, especially since the student union affiliated with the party that has been in government for over 30 years was involved in the Pulchowk campus incident, pressuring professors not to raise tuition fees.

In conclusion, Khanal stressed the need to completely eliminate student politics from all universities, including tertiary institutions. He argued that threatening and extorting professors while highlighting the inadequacy of state education funding should not be tolerated, and universities should be freed from all forms of political interference.