Tribhuvan University Faces Delays in Exams and Results

Biratnagar. Tribhuvan University (TU), Nepal's oldest and largest educational institution, continues to publish exam schedules and application form submission notices for various faculties. These notices might suggest the university is trying to regularize its examination system. However, TU's delays in conducting exams and publishing results have not yet ceased.

The TU Examination Control Division (P.N.K.) Balkhu started the partial examination for the first year of the 3-year Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Humanities and Social Sciences from Jestha 18, 2083 BS. The application forms were filled in Bhadra and Kartik of the previous year. Similarly, the 2080 BS examination for the first year of the 3-year Bachelor of Arts (BA) (partial) started from Chaitra 20, 2081 BS, at which time students from across the country were called to Kathmandu for the exam. The 2081 BS examination was held in Jestha 2083 BS.

Students report facing hardship while waiting for a single subject's partial exam. 'Why are the officials of Tribhuvan University, who make us memorize the red book, sitting with oil in their ears?' said student Yograj Dahal, who is also an educational activist. 'Why are students taking partial exams and chance exams treated the same? Students taking partial exams should be treated like regular students. They should be allowed to take the exam once a year according to TU's rules.'

Questioning the delay, Dahal claimed that TU is playing with the future of students in the annual examination system. 'There are two types of students in Tribhuvan University. The wealthy and influential study in the semester system by paying hefty fees, but the children of the poor and common people study in the annual system. TU is playing with the future of students in the annual system,' he said. 'According to TU's rules, students can take an exam multiple times in an academic program, but due to delays of 2-3 months every year, students are losing years of their time. The bitter reality is that a student who failed a subject in Chaitra 2081 BS has only been able to take the partial exam in Jestha 2083 BS. How will the future of students be secured like this?'

Dahal states that Tribhuvan University officials are engaged in infighting, blaming each other, not coordinating, the examination control office not conducting exams on time, and not releasing results. 'In the case of the Law Faculty, the Dean's office opens applications only after graduates have obtained their transcripts, and then allows them to participate in the entrance exam for the three-year LLB. This is not justified,' he said. 'For this reason, students share the bitter reality of having to go abroad to study.'

Citing the Law Faculty as an example, Dahal criticized the lack of coordination at TU. According to him, the entrance exam for the 3800 vacancies opened on Chaitra 27 has been scheduled for Jestha 29. However, some students who filled out forms in Bhadra and Kartik have not yet been able to take the exam.

'Is it that only the rich should study in this country? Are the children of the poor not students?' Dahal questions. 'Even though the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education have instructed to publish the results within a month, TU has not complied. The results of the Humanities Faculty exams held in Falgun and Chaitra have not yet come out.'

Dahal alleges that although the Vice-Chancellor (Prime Minister) and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Minister of Education) of TU talk about reforms, nothing has been done in practice. 'Even after filing complaints everywhere, from Hello Sarkar to other places, no action is taken. Seeing such chaos at TU, why is the government, which chants good governance, sitting with oil in its ears?' he said.

Tribhuvan University's Examination Controller Laxman Poudel stated that the exams were delayed due to the Bhadra agitation and various ongoing protests within the university. 'There have been delays. The reason for this is the agitation in Bhadra, and students within Tribhuvan University protested with various demands. The exams have been delayed for various reasons,' Poudel said. He added that the results of the current examination are expected to be published by the month of Bhadra.