TU to Reintroduce Semester System, Student Unions Protest
Tribhuvan University (TU) is planning to reinstate the semester structure of course study in central campus. While TU Central Campus has proposed to reintroduce the semester structure of course study, the students unions has been remonstrating the proposal. The university has been running the annual academic year system for more than three and half decades. The university wanted to bring back semester structure to eradicate the long-winded state of study milieu at the central campus. But, the student unions have been querulously opposing the reformist step of TU.
The TU Assembly held on June last year at Pokhara had already decided to implement the semester structure of course study, effective from February this year. Several educationists and academicians also believe that the implementation of semester system would be proved as a milestone in upgrading the education quality of TU. A departmental head at TU Central Campus said that the student unions are against the proposal since it would diminish their political exercises and irregularity at the university. In annual academic year, students are often irregular and admissions are also discriminately encouraged by the student unions.
Against the decision of the university, Free Student Union (FSU) and All Nepal National Free Student Union (ANNFSU) Revolutionary has door-locked the departments at TU Central Campus from Thursday. The student unions had already handed out a batten to the university on 5th January, asking the university to clarify about irregularity of professors, guarantee of infrastructure, fee scheme and number of students, scholarships, entrance examination and the methods of evaluation. Also, releasing a communiqué, the students unions have indicated the decision of the university as an irresponsible and immature act. They have also blamed the University for trying to reintroduce the failed adoption of semester system. The university adopted the semester system in 1971, which was later removed in 1979 as the university intended to embrace the European system of education.
The student unions are arguing that the semester structure of course study will be expensive and remote to the poor. They also accused the University for being lured by donor agencies and trying to make the higher education inaccessible to the capable deprived students. But, other degrees offered by TU including BBA, Nursing and Medicine, and Engineering having semester structure of course study are recognized as productive programs of the university. Among all, Institute of Engineering (IOE) is known to be most successful.
It is surprising that while TU is forging towards developing the university as a ‘center of excellence’, the student unions have been petulantly opposing the system already proven as prolific program.
What do you think about TU going for implementation of semester structure of course study at central campus? Do comment.
