PM urges graduates to use knowledge for national prosperity

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 29: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called on graduates to utilise their acquired knowledge to create a situation where all Nepalis can live peacefully, respectfully, prosperously, and happily.

Addressing the 50th Convocation Ceremony organised by Tribhuvan University at Dashrath Stadium on Saturday, the university’s Chancellor, Prime Minister Oli, urged graduates to work towards building a democratic, cultured, and honest society while remaining humble and free from arrogance about their academic achievements.

Prime Minister Oli emphasised that education does not end with obtaining a degree and urged graduates to translate their knowledge into practical life and refine it further. “If the knowledge one possesses cannot be applied practically, it becomes meaningless. Knowledge must be used practically for the overall benefit of society,” he stated.

“We must take on the primary responsibility of freeing the country from the current 20 per cent absolute poverty rate. We must advance the journey towards the national aspiration of a prosperous Nepal and happy Nepalis,” the Prime Minister Oli. 

The Prime Minister highlighted Nepal as a land of knowledge, meditation, yoga, and culture, stressing the need to be grateful for ancestral wisdom and to learn from it.

During the ceremony, Chancellor Oli conferred degrees upon 14,308 students from various faculties and levels.

Chief guest economist Dr. Ram Prakash Yadav remarked that success can be achieved through perseverance and integrity in life.

Co-Chancellor and Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, Bidya Bhattarai, emphasised the importance of increasing the use of technology in teaching and learning.

Tribhuvan University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Keshar Jung Baral announced that the university is pursuing a policy to merge its campuses.

Baral said human resources are the country’s most valuable assets and the future of the nation depends on them. 

According to the University Grants Commission’s 2023/24 report, there are a total of 633,053 students enrolled in colleges affiliated to Tribhuvan University across the country, of which, 491,299 students are studying at Tribhuvan University. He also informed that TU affiliated colleges are present in 76 of 77 districts in the country.

Additionally, he expressed concern over the fact that the government had allocated only approximately 1 per cent of the total national budget to the university in the fiscal year 2023/24. He emphasised that this limited funding posed a challenge to providing quality education. 

He urged the relevant stakeholders to focus on improving the university’s infrastructure to ensure quality education.

Students who achieved the top ranks in various levels and subjects at Tribhuvan University were also awarded various medals. 

This year's Tribhuvan University Professor Association martyr Associate Professor Hariraj Adhikari Gold Medal was awarded to Hira Shrestha from the Management Studies Department and the Shree Indra Bhakta Shrestha Gold Medal was awarded to Sudha Kafle from the School of Management.

Similarly, the Amrit Medal was awarded to Sushil Pokhrel from the Central Department of Chemistry, the Madan Vidya Environmental Science Award to Rikita Bhandari from the Central Department of Environmental Science and the Nepal Bank Limited Sardar Gunjanman Singh Gold Medal to Rebika Bhandari from Kathmandu Model College.

The Narendra Mani Acharya Degree Medal and Dr. Mohan Prasad Lakhe Gold Medal were awarded to Sudiksha Ghimire from Ratna Rajyalaxmi Campus. 

The Shanti-Narayan Mishra Medal was awarded to Sanjeev Kumar Singh from the Central Department of Library and Information Science, Dr. Dubasu Kshetri Gold Medal to Pratik Raj Joshi from the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, and the Emirates Prada Ramprasad Chaudhary Gold Medal to Shreena Kshetri from the Central Department of Botany. 

Chetana Kunwar from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication was also awarded the Narayan Shanti Mishra Medal. A total of 14,308 students graduated from Tribhuvan University during its 50th convocation ceremony. 

Of them, 9,068 students graduated from the undergraduate level, 5,055 from the postgraduate level, 63 from MPhil and 122 doctoral (PhD) students.