During a meeting convened on Falgun 15, 2080, the Parliament's Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee engaged in discussions concerning a proposal to establish new universities to enhance their quality and management. Among the members, varying opinions emerged on the necessity of creating new universities, as outlined in the amendment related to establishing the 'Nepal University with the Bill on Nepal University, 2079,' which had been presented in Parliament for discussion.
Lawmakers raised queries regarding the need for a new university, the existence of a feasibility study for its establishment, and whether creating such an institution would enhance the quality of education. Some members contended that the government should introduce the bill only if deemed essential, underscoring the significance of generating employment opportunities for youth within existing universities.
Within the meeting, Minister of Education, Science, and Technology Ashok Kumar Rai and representatives from the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs expressed support for establishing new universities, highlighting the potential for competition and innovation that such institutions could bring.
Members of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), Raghuji Panta, and National Freedom Party's MP Sumana Shrestha emphasized the appropriateness of creating new universities. However, lawmakers Devendra Paudel from the Nepali Congress and Jeevan Pariyar from the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Center) argued against the need for the bill, asserting that further discussion was unnecessary.
The government's proposal to open a university focusing on producing capable human resources in scientific, technical, vocational, and employment-oriented fields received endorsement from Dr. Arjun Karki, the Chairperson of the Preparatory Development Committee for the proposed university. He expressed confidence that the university would contribute to the country's prosperity through public research and studies in various sectors.
Dr. Prof. Balchandra Luitel, the Dean of the School of Education at Kathmandu University, recommended that establishing a new university should be based on evaluating the country's developmental needs. He noted that a new university could offer quality education and create employment opportunities, potentially reducing the reliance on foreign education for 30% of students seeking education abroad.
During the discussions, it was highlighted that the proposed university would be self-governing and autonomous, with no mention of the government's financial responsibilities in the bill. Committee president Bhanubhakta Joshi informed that further deliberations on the amendments proposed by 36 lawmakers would occur in the upcoming session.
