Minister Kharel visits Journalism Department, vows support for academic excellence

Kathmandu, Nov 20: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jagdish Kharel, visited the Central Department of Journalism and Mass Communications at Balkhu on Thursday.     

He also inspected the 'Camera Building' of the Department and assured support to journalism educators for the academic excellence of the institution.     

"I felt humble seeing the Camera Building of the Journalism and Mass Communications Department. It is a temple of knowledge," he said, adding that he, as a student, felt it was a dream house. The classrooms at RR Campus when he was a journalism student were narrow and lacked facilities, Minister Kharel remembered the past.     

He vowed he would extend support from government side for the academic excellence of the Department which is now in a spacious location.     

On the occasion, Department Chief Dr Kundan Aryal said the Central Department of Journalism and Mass Communications had a vital role in producing quality human resources. He further shared that the Department was planning the educational programmes on digital media production and film studies, for which, collaboration with foreign universities was going on.     

The Central Department which was limited at RR Campus for long has been running from its own building in a spacious location of Balkhu, Kathmandu for two years. The students of MA, MPhil and PhD are catered education here.     

Minister Kharel meets Prof Lal Deusa Rai     

Meanwhile, Minister Kharel met the founder of the Journalism Department and journalism guru Lal Deusa Rai at the latter's residence, Banasthali, on Thursday itself.     

He acquired information about Professor Rai's health condition and wished good health and longevity. The Minister also discussed development of journalism and professionalism with Professor Rai.     

Kharel remarked that Professor Rai had an instrumental role in elevating the status of Nepali journalism. Rai was the university teacher for 40 years. He is 92-year-old.     

Together with Minister Kharel to visit Professor Rai were Department Chief Dr Aryal, other professors and students.(RSS)