Professors of Kathmandu University on agitation

Kantipur Correspondent
Translated from (http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnepalinews.php&nid=78026)

Kavre, June27: Professors of Kathmandu University have embarked on agitational path demanding their professional rights and putting an end to the irregularities in Kahtmandu University. The professors declared their agitation from the university premise on the last Tuesday. Moreover, irrespective of numerous correspondences with the university administration, the professors have warned that they would move on to stronger protest programs if the university administration continues current apathy. Similarly, they have decided to stage sit-in program in front of the administrative office of the vice-chancellor on coming wedenesday. The professors have presented 8 points demands of reinstaement of sacked professors, recognition of the Kathmandu University Professors’ Association (KUPA), permanency for the temporary professors and promotion for those who are hapazardly victimized by the administation. Moreover, they have demanded irregularities in appointment of various employees in the university. “So far, we are cofining ourselves on corresponding with the administration. If the administration does not pay heed to our demands, we will be forced to announce stronger protests programs,” says the General secretary of KUPA, Dr. Sameer Dixit. He fruther elaborated that after the first round of staging sit-in program and submitting memorandoum to the Prime Minister, they would embark on second round of the protests programs. Moreover, the President of Nepal University Teachers’ Association (NUTA), Mr. Bhupati Dhakal emphasized that since the demands of the professors are legitimate, NUTA will express her solidarity with the professors of the Kathmandu University.

However, the university administration has issued one notification cautioning the teachers against participation in such protests programs citinng no-existence of provisions of having professors’ association in the KU statute. Moreover, it is notified that there will be one meeting chaired by Prime-minister Girija Prasad Koirala regarding the demands of the professors. Just ten days before, the University administration terminated Dr. Boris Niraula stating that his contractual tenure have come to an end. However, the professors of Kathmandu University opine that the KU autorities terminated him for his participation in people’s movement-2 which was recently concluded.