Tribhuvan University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Keshar Jung Baral, undertook a comprehensive study tour of Lumbini Province from Jestha 27 to 29, visiting eight constituent campuses and a regional examination control office. This visit aimed to assess the current situation and address the pressing challenges faced by these educational institutions.
On Jestha 27, Prof. Dr. Baral inspected the under-construction building of the TU Regional Examination Control Office in Kohalpur. Deputy Controller Suman Gautam informed him that the building would be completed within one to two months. Prof. Dr. Baral expressed confidence that the new facility would enhance the efficiency and security of office operations. However, during a visit to the existing examination control office in Nepalgunj, it was discovered that another family was living on the premises, raising concerns about the confidentiality of examinations.
Later that day, the Vice Chancellor visited the Nepalgunj Nursing Campus, established in 2026 B.S. Despite its significant contributions to nursing education, the campus faces challenges such as maintaining old buildings and human resource management. Campus Chief Tulsa Sunar briefed Prof. Dr. Baral on these issues before he toured the new administrative buildings and the under-construction library.
At Mahendra Multiple Campus in Nepalgunj, a well-known educational hub for fifty years, Prof. Dr. Baral shared his vision to develop the campus into a center of educational excellence. Discussions with faculty, staff, and student representatives raised various issues, including land encroachment. Campus Chief Lalmani Acharya expressed concerns over the underutilization and protection of the campus’s extensive land holdings.
On Jestha 28, Prof. Dr. Baral visited the proposed Institute of Engineering Studies at Ghorahi Campus in Dang. He observed the construction of office buildings and a perimeter wall on approximately five bighas of land. Project Director Ram Prasad Poudel informed him that engineering courses would commence once the infrastructure is completed.
Following this, he visited Mahendra Multiple Campus in Ghorahi, which offers various subjects in Education, Management, and Science and Technology. The campus also grapples with human resource shortages. Campus Chief Bhataraj Nyaupane highlighted the lack of support from higher authorities for effectively using the campus’s seventy bighas of land.
Later that day, Prof. Dr. Baral visited Butwal Multiple Campus, one of the country’s largest campuses. Despite its well-developed infrastructure, the campus primarily demanded the establishment of a regional examination control office nearby. Issues related to insurance, exam results, human resources, promotions, IT, hostels, workload, curriculum revision, and part-time teachers were raised during a discussion program.
On Jestha 29, Prof. Dr. Baral reached Palpa to assess the situation at Palpa Multiple Campus in Tansen. Campus Chief Tankaprasad Bhattarai and others highlighted the severe shortage of permanent teachers and staff, forcing the campus to rely on part-time and daily wage workers.
Later that day, Prof. Dr. Baral visited Bhairahawa Campus, quickly seeing significant student numbers and infrastructure growth. Campus Chief Anil Kumar Jha mentioned that some classrooms are equipped with air conditioning, and the campus has maintained academic activities by appointing internal staff to address shortages.
The Vice-Chancellor also visited Paklihawa, known for its fertile land for agricultural research, to observe the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science. Campus Chief Ram Bhajan Mandal explained that the campus continues its academic and research activities in old buildings and that much of the available land remains unused.
Throughout these visits, Prof. Dr. Baral emphasized that addressing the shortage of teachers and staff would involve activating the TU Service Commission immediately. He also stressed the strict implementation of the academic calendar to end teaching irregularities. Encouraging faculty and staff to focus on capacity development, he said, “We are not here to give you positions; you must be ready to earn them yourselves. Similarly, in technical subjects, we need to adopt a strategy of earning and learning.”
In his meetings with teachers, staff, and student representatives, Prof. Dr. Baral reiterated that the university’s success depends on the contributions and efforts of everyone involved. “If we can proceed this way, all our big and small problems will gradually be solved,” he said firmly.
