Fee hike row puts IOE entrance exams in uncertainty

Kathmandu, Sept. 2: "Shall we focus on the syllabus or spend time reading press statements?" read a question raised on the Facebook group 'IOE Entrance Preparation'.

There are several such Facebook groups and pages created by individuals and institutions to provide information on the entrance examinations for undergraduate engineering courses offered by different universities. 

Currently, hundreds of aspiring engineers can be seen questioning admins of the groups/pages and other members regarding the update on 

entrance examinations for Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) and Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch) under Tribhuvan University (TU).

Tribhuvan University's Institute of Engineering (IOE), on August 26, published a notice informing that entrance examination processes for B.E. and B. Arch, other than applying for the exam, were suspended until further notice. The entrance examinations were earlier scheduled to start on September 11. 

"Until further notice, the entrance examination has been postponed for now as there have been concerns related to the increment in the fee structure for the new academic session," read the notice signed by IOE Dean Shashidhar Ram Joshi.

The fee for B.E. and B. Arch was increased by IOE on the recommendation of the fee revision committee on August 10. However, in response, students and their associations launched protests demanding that the IOE not implement the new fee.

As per the revised fee structure of the IOE, the total fee for eight semesters (four years) of B.E. and B. Arch is Rs. 775,720 for full-paying students. It was Rs. 318,880 earlier.

In more than three weeks since the decision to increase the fee, at least half a dozen different student organisations have staged different protests, including hunger strikes. On August 30, a five-point agreement between student association leaders and the TU officials, including TU Vice Chancellor Dr. Dharma Kanta Baskota, was reached.

As per the agreement, the TU would direct the IOE not to implement the new fee structure, to resume entrance processes for B.E. and B. Arch, and to end the hunger strike.

However, two days after the agreement, the IOE has neither revoked the new fee structure nor resumed the halted entrance examination processes. 

While the IOE has already clarified about budget shortage to operate as a centre of excellence, an IOE official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media, argued that the issue was being unnecessarily politicised.

Political discord 

Representatives from All Nepal National Independent Students' Union, Revolutionary (ANNISU-R), All Nepal National Free Students Union (Unified Socialist), Nepal Students' Union (NSU), ANNISU-R of Chand-led CPN and Socialist Students Union signed the agreement on August 30 with TU officials.

Except for the NSU, three representatives of the other above-mentioned student wings had started a hunger strike on August 27 which ended on August 30 with the inking of the agreement. 

However, Sulav Chapagain, President of Pulchowk Campus' Nepal Student's Union (NSU), had started a fast-unto-death from August 22. He was on the ninth day of his hunger strike when the agreement was reached.

NSU central members, including chairman Dujang Sherpa, had reached Bir Hospital, where Sulav was kept for treatment, to end the hunger strike after the agreement. 

"I was forced to end the hunger strike because I did not believe the agreement as there was no representative from the IOE. I was forced to end my hunger strike by chairman Sherpa. It was hard to convince my parents that I would not end the hunger strike for the students, but I could not convince my union's chair," said Sulav in an August 31 video as he asked for security. He also announced his resignation as Pulchowk Campus' NSU President.

Since then, the differences between student leaders belonging to different factions have become clearer to the students. Leaders within the NSU are divided into two factions with one saying it was an unethical and immoral move to force an individual to break his hunger strike and the other praising the NSU Chairman for helping Sulav end his hunger strike.

On the other hand, ANNFSU, the student wing of CPN-UML which was not involved in the agreement with TU officials, have stopped TU officials from entering their offices from Friday. They have stressed that the agreement of August 30 was only a political stunt.

With TU officials unable to attend their offices, no effective step has been taken. "However, the IOE will be directed to act according to the agreement," said Yogendra Prasad Dahal, information officer for TU.

Students have commented on the incident through social media platforms echoing that student leaders and associations failed to unite for the benefit of students.

What are authorities doing?

According to the TU, the IOE will be directed not to implement the new fee structure and to implement a new fee ceiling by coordinating with all the stakeholders. 

However, the IOE has not made public any information regarding the new fee structure and postponement of entrance examinations. IOE officials argued that the institution would not survive if it was unable to increase the fee or receive enough budget from the government.

"Keeping in mind the poor economic condition of the IOE and its constituent campuses, an all-party meeting and discussion should find a proper solution to ensure that the campuses operate as an international-level academic and research centre," read a statement signed by campus chiefs of four constituent campuses – Pulchowk Campus, Western Region Campus, Thapathali Campus and Purwanchal Campus – under the IOE on August 27.

Compared to IOE's Rs. 318,880 fees until last year, Pokhara University's fee for B.E. is Rs. 715,000 and Kathmandu University's fee is Rs. 850,000.

While the phone numbers shown on IOE's main website and the Entrance Examination Board had been changed, the new numbers, which have not been updated by the authorities, were not reachable. 

IOE's Dean Shashidhar Ram Joshi did not receive and respond to phone calls and texts while VC Dr. Baskota's phone was not reachable. 

"TU is an autonomous organisation. We have been informed that it has already directed the IOE to find the solution soon. It seems that the process is going forward in a system and we believe that the problem will get resolved soon," said Deepak Sharma, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

According to Sharma, the ministry, however, was always ready to provide necessary support if requested by the TU and the IOE.