Govt to appoint top officials in universities within a week

Four major parties have reached an understanding to appoint senior officials in government universities within a week.

A meeting comprising representatives of three ruling parties - Nepali Congress (NC), CPN (UML) and NC (Democratic) - and the Maoists Thursday concluded in an agreement to appoint officials in senior administrative posts in four government universities within a week.

The government had earlier committed to protesting student groups to appoint officials in Tribhuvan University, Pokhara, Purwanchal and Mahendra Sanskrit University. Posts of vice-chancellors and other key administrative officials remain vacant for over seven months in these universities.

Minister for Education and Sports Mangal Siddhi Manandhar, Minister of State for Information and Communication Dilendra Badu, who is also the government spokesperson, and president of UML-affiliated All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) Thakur Gaire signed a memorandum today on appointment of university officials.

The ANNFSU had been carrying out strikes in universities demanding appointment of officials. With this agreement, the ANNISU has called off its protest programmes announced earlier.

Minister Manandhar had been complaining about lack of cooperation from the Prime Minister in appointing officials in universities while the Maoists were pressuring the government not to make any key appointments before they entered an interim cabinet. nepalnews.com mk Feb 22 07