"Our longstanding dream of setting up separate regional universities seems to have eventually come true," Ramesh Lekhak, a Nepali Congress (NC) lawmaker who hails from far western region, told myrepublica.com. "Constituting coordination committees means that the actual process of establishing three new regional universities is all set to take off." [break]
In the face of Ministry of Education (MoE) writing to parliament secretariat to withdraw bills tabled for setting up three new universities saying that an umbrella act for all varsities is in offing, the future of proposed varsities was bleak. MoE officials had argued that separate bills for three new universities were not required at all as the umbrella act would be enough.
However, following protests by CA members representing far and mid western regions, the parliament passed all bills required for establishing Far West, Mid West and Agriculture and Veterinary universities. Once the president approves the bills, the way for opening new varsities will pave.
With the passing of bills, three constituent and two affiliated campuses of Tribhuvan University (TU) have almost come under new varsities.
Siddhanath Science Campus and Siddhanath Multiple Campus, both located in Mahendranagar, have come under Far West University. Similarly, Surkhet Education Campus and Birendra Multiple Campus have come under Mid West University. Rampur Campus will be a constituent college of Agriculture and Veterinary Science University.
University Grant Commission (UGC) has appointed chiefs of Siddhanath Science Campus and Surkhet Education Campus as the coordinators of Far West University and Mid West University respectively. Similarly, UGC has appointed chief Rampur Campus as the coordinator of Agriculture and Veterinary Science University.
The committees will receive grants to be provided by the government through the annual budget.
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