Friday, August 30, 2013

Panel to look into PU problems

KATHMANDU, AUG 27 -
Ministry of Education (MoE) on Sunday formed a three-member high-level committee to resolve the existing problems in the Biratngar based- Purbanchal University (PU).
All academic and administrative activities of the university have come to a halt since December last year due to the ongoing protests of various political parties and student unions demanding resignation of top five officials at the university.
The committee led by University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Ganesh Man Gurung includes MoE Joint Secretary Surya Prasad Gautam and Under-Secretary Badri Karki. The ministry has directed the committee to solve the problem immediately through dialogue.
Students and local leaders of various political parties have padlocked the university demanding a fair investigation into the alleged involvement PU authorities in financial irregularities. The leaders and unions close to 16 political parties have also demanded resignation of PU Vice-chancellor Maheshwor Man Shrestha, Registrar Niroj Panday, Acting Registrar Shambhu Koirala and Deans Shubha Narayan Pathak and Shyam Katuwal. “We have already issued letters
to the agitating parties for dialogue and hope that the first round of talks will start in a couple of days,” Gautam said, adding that the committee has already started informal talks with the protesters.
The university has neither conducted any examinations for the past four months nor published results of examinations held months ago. The situation, thus, has created confusion among 25,000 students enrolled under various streams at the university.
Meanwhile, a four-member committee formed to investigate the alleged irregularities in the university has submitted its report to the MOE. The probe committee led by UGC Member Secretary Bhola Nath Pokhrel has recommended the ministry to seek help of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority and the Office of the Auditor General.

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