Nepal Education Minister Vows to End Political Interference in Universities

Nepal’s Education Minister Sashmit Pokharel has vowed to end political interference in the country’s universities, saying that appointments will be based on merit rather than political connections.

Speaking at the 67th anniversary of Tribhuvan University, Pokharel claimed that recent appointments had been made on the basis of merit, and that the university had been freed from the influence of political parties.

‘The university has been freed from the influence of political parties and appointments are now made on the basis of merit,’ Pokharel said. ‘We have ensured that the university is free from political interference and that appointments are made on the basis of merit.’

Pokharel also called on the university to operate independently and to recover its properties that had been seized by political parties. He assured that the government would provide support to the university in this process.

Government’s Five-Year Plan for Higher Education

The government is currently discussing a five-year plan for higher education with the university’s leadership, Pokharel said. The plan aims to take the university to an international level and to attract foreign students.

‘We are committed to taking the university to an international level and to attracting foreign students,’ Pokharel said. ‘We will also move forward with the ‘Professor Exchange’ program to bring in foreign professors.’

The minister’s comments come as part of a broader effort to reform the country’s education system and to reduce the influence of political parties in universities.