EDITORIAL
Monday May 24th, 1999 / Jestha 11, 2056 B.S.

TU Upgrading

Experts have said that the development status of a country can be measured by the literacy rate of that country. If one is to go by such a logic, then it is not surprising that a developing country like Nepal has a lower than average literacy rate. Furthermore, in the higher level of education, the nation is found even more wanting. The lone university in the country for a long period of time, the Tribhuvan University (TU), has been taking on most of the responsibility in providing college level education and that stands true even now, when there are other universities and also private institutions doing the same. Naturally, the load on TU is immense. There are thousands of schools students who pass out every year. The majority of them seek admission in the various colleges of TU spread all across the country. So what has been experienced in the many years since the University’s establishment is that, in its effort to provide higher education opportunity to all, the quality of education has suffered. This was admitted even by the Vice Chancellor of the University at the TU Academic Council meeting on Thursday.

So, as the nation with the rest of the world prepares to enter the Twenty first Century, the biggest challenge in front of TU, is to upgrade the standard of education in its colleges even as its provides education to the thousands of eager students who come to its doors. Of course a lot of homework will have to be put in to achieve such a lofty objective. From providing better perks and pay to teachers to providing training, having better physical facilities and maintaining strict discipline within the campuses, many things will have to be done. It is encouraging that even now the University is trying to adjust its curriculum and academic periods to match that of any university of the world. As mentioned by the Vice Chancellor, it has become imperative for TU to maintain its image in terms of international competition. With better planning, hard work and discipline in TU faculties and support from the government, there is no reason why TU can’t be on par with any other universities of the world, even while providing higher education to thousands of Nepalese within the country.

(Editorial in The Rising Nepal, Saturday, May 22)