National 4 (Spotlight Weekly)

"Enhancement Of Quality Is More Necessary"

— Dr. Govinda P. Sharma

Professor Dr. Govinda Prasad Sharma, vice chancellor of Tribhuwan University - has had a long innings in education sector. A surgeon by profession, Dr. Sharma has served in different capacities in the Institute of Medicine before being appointed as a vice chancellor. Dr. Sharma spoke to KESHAB POUDEL KESHAB POUDEL on various issues. Excerpts:

How do you evaluate the present situation of higher education? There are altogether five universities in the country. So far as the concept of opening new universities is concerned, it is welcome. But if these new universities are to be opened on the basis of our affiliated campuses, I don’t think this is possible any more. There was a debate on this matter in our senate recently. No senate member in our university is in a mood to hand over our affiliated campuses to other universities. In accordance with the Tribhuwan University Act, it requires two third majority of senate support to take any decision regarding the handing over of the property of Tribhuwan University. I am also not in a position to hand over our affiliated campuses to private campuses. As long as existing Tribhuwan University Act is functional, it is impossible to shift our affiliated campuses to new universities. We don’t have any objection if the government wants to open new university on its own.

At a time when TU is introducing new courses, do you think there is a need to open separate university to teach specific subjects? Do we need to increase the number of universities or quality of education they provide?

I think we have to focus on quality of education. We are also trying to increase the quality of education at TU by introducing various new subjects as well as specified disciplines.

Don't you think TU has become too big to manage?

I don't think TU is too big and unmanageable. If people can manage big countries like People's Republic of China and the United States, there is no question of difficulties in managing Tribhuwan University. If you don't have good management practice, you cannot mange even smaller universities. It is not that big university cannot run successfully. It depends n how you develop the system. It is also a question of efficiency of management.

At a time when the government is not giving adequate budget to TU, do you think it has resources to support the new universities?

You need more resources to open new universities. Established university does not require much resource since we already have infrastructures and other necessary support system in place. If the government increases our budget even by a small amount, we will be able to deliver better results. First of all, we need to sort out the problems like budget crunch and politicization in higher education. Only after solving these problems, it is better to open new university. This is the need of the country. I don't have any objection in opening up of new universities. If people want new universities, that is alright. Tribhuwan University is a public property and we must follow what Nepalese people want. However, at a time when we are unable to solve the existing problems in higher education, I don't see any logic in opening new universities.

How do you evaluate your two years tenure?

I don't think an individual can bring drastic change in his short tenure. One individual cannot bring substantial change. As there is a saying that an army general needs all out support to win the war, I also need the support from all sectors to bring change in the TU. If we want to strengthen the TU, I need cooperation from students as well. There is a need to increase interaction between teachers and students to enhance the quality of education. In technical faculties, there is a culture of cooperation and interaction. So far as other faculties are concerned, we need to develop that culture. After my appointment as vice chancellor, I have been trying hard to develop a strategy to strengthen the TU. I am happy to say that all my colleagues, students, guardians and employees are supporting me. I am proud to be a vice chancellor of country's oldest university. Since TU is the oldest university in the country, it must be treated as a pioneer and mother university. This is the university, which is providing higher education for more than 95 percent of the population. Nepal's political parties, guardians and common people must realize it. If teachers and students come together, they can improve the situation. Money is not everything; we also need human resources. The goal of teachers and students must be to enhance the quality of education. Of course, we don' t have adequate money and resources but what we have is qualified and talented persons. Although they are old, we also have impressive infrastructures. The primary need is the willingness of students and teachers to study. I would like to request students, teachers and political leaders to join hands. Education is the most essential factor for the overall development of the country. Without quality education, we cannot move forward.

Tribhuwan University's senate meeting reportedly complained about the inadequate budget. How do you look at it?

When the government does not sanction adequate budget to TU, it will hamper the overall situation within the university. If we receive less money, we will sanction less amount of money to the institutes and they, in turn, will not sanction money to the campuses under then. That means, it will have a chain effect in entire education sector. We all suffer from such scarcity.

The government often says that its priority is primary education. How do you justify spending a huge amount of money in higher education?

Instead of cutting our budget, the government must show where we have committed wrong in spending money. As a head of the University, I am responsible for not offering the budget in accordance with the demand of institutes. The government must also satisfy me why I am not receiving the adequate budget. We need to be open and transparent in expenditure. Financial discipline is a very important matter. Nobody is taking responsibility now.

Under the TU, you have excellent institution for technical education. If you don't receive adequate budget, how will you sustain them?

I am proud to say that all our technical institutes are imparting best quality of education. From medicine campuses to engineering to forest and agriculture, all technical institutes are well known for their quality education. They also charge the reasonable prices to students compared to private institutions. By producing the quality manpower in medicine, agriculture, engineering and other sectors, they have been doing great service to the country. Tribhuwan University's Teaching Hospital also provides medical services to a large number of countrymen.

How do you see the quality of general education like humanities and other social sciences?

They are all equally important for the all round development of the country. As all other technical subjects, social sciences and general sciences also have important roles to play. We also need political scientists, historians, physicians, geographers and others. They can contribute to the overall national development. We need resources as well as disciplined manpower.

How do you see the role of political parties?

Political parties can play a very important role in bringing the change in the university. If they take this matter seriously, we can improve our teaching learning practices. Political parties are also aware about the situation. Whichever party comes to the power, they must realize the importance of quality education.

What is the ratio of student and teachers at TU?

All of you know that our fee structure is very low. For this fiscal year, we require Rs 1.65 billion. It will include only salary, pension and other administrative cost. Unfortunately, the government is sanctioning just Rs 1.38 billion. We can also collect some Rs 270 million from students. This money is not enough to buy even chalk and dusters. At a time when the country is demanding the quality education, we need to have adequate budget. How can you expect the quality education when you don't have money? First of all, the government should sanction money to help us maintain our operation cost. We need to computerize our education system and introduce on-line education. I don't think we can do it without adequate budget. The government must consider our requirement and necessities.