Student unions protest exclusion from key meeting held at Prime Minister’s residence
Kathmandu,Date: July 11, 2025 (27 Asar 2082, Nepali Calendar)
Nepal’s largest and oldest university, Tribhuvan University (TU), has approved a budget of NPR 28.12 billion (approx. USD 211 million) for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83. The budget was endorsed at a controversial university assembly meeting held on Thursday at Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s official residence in Baluwatar, rather than the university’s own premises.
Registrar Prof. Dr. Kedar Prasad Rijal presented the budget at the meeting, which came just a day after PM Oli appointed Prof. Dr. Deepak Aryal as the new Vice Chancellor. The university’s annual assembly, originally scheduled for Asar 22 (July 6), had been postponed until now.
Escalating Financial Mismanagement
The budget approval has been overshadowed by growing concerns over financial mismanagement. According to the 62nd Annual Report of the Office of the Auditor General, TU has accumulated financial irregularities totaling NPR 30.55 billion (approx. USD 229 million) — an increase of NPR 2.23 billion compared to the previous year.
Despite repeated reminders, the university has failed to reconcile these audit discrepancies for the past three fiscal years, raising alarm over accountability in Nepal’s higher education sector.
Controversial Meeting Sparks Student Outrage
The meeting has also drawn sharp criticism from various student unions, including the Nepal Student Union (NSU) and All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (Revolutionary), for not including any student representatives.
The Free Student Union issued a formal statement condemning the meeting, calling it a violation of democratic norms within educational institutions.
“A university assembly held without student participation, at a politically symbolic venue like the PM’s residence, is unacceptable and undermines the autonomy of academic institutions,” said Deepak Raj Joshi, president of the union.
Key Priorities in the New Budget
Tribhuvan University has outlined several academic and structural goals for the upcoming year:
Development of labor market-oriented curricula
Strategies to attract international students
Greater focus on research, academic conferences, workshops, and seminars
The university has also approved the 63rd graduation list, covering 89,191 students who have completed their degrees across various faculties and levels.
PM and Education Minister Emphasize Reform
Prime Minister Oli, who also serves as the university’s Chancellor, called for making TU a “competitive and capable institution of the 21st century.”
Education Minister Raghuraj Pant emphasized that the higher education sector must align with Nepal’s national goal of a “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali.”
Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Deepak Aryal stated that the university should aim to enroll at least 1% international students — roughly 4,000 — as part of its global outreach efforts.
