By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Nov. 10: Students of Kathmandu University’s School of Engineering, School of Law, School of Management and School of Science have begun a relay hunger strike to protest the university’s decision to collect what they call “additional charges”.
The students claim that they are being asked to pay for resources they have not used. “Since the pandemic began, we have not gone to the university and have not used its laboratories, libraries, internet and such. Yet, we are being asked to pay for them,” said a striking student who requested to not be named. He also stressed that they were not affiliated with any student union.
Govinda Baniya, central member of the All Nepal National Independent Student Union’s chapter in Kathmandu University (KU), also said that the university was seeking to collect extra fees. “KU is asking students to pay full fees at a time when they have only been receiving online classes. The student unions have been raising this issue for long and now the students have also begun the strike.”
He informed that the students had four demands-- cancellation of the fee payment notice issued on October 8, charging of tuition fees only, implementation of COVID-19 financial assistance scheme for needy pupils and cancellation of all fines for late fee payment.
Meanwhile, Professor Dr. Kanhaiya Jha, dean of KU School of Science, emphasised that the university was not collecting any undue charges. “The semester is not over nor can it be over without proper practical classes. We have to involve the students in lab works, arrange internships, have project works and much more. We are merely advancing the theory part of our courses through online classes.”
Jha said that the issue of charging fees for resources not used could be a misunderstanding. “Yes, the students are not using facilities like labs and computers now but that doesn’t mean they will not use them at all during the semester. We will involve them in practical assignments as soon as the university is allowed to reopen and they will then utilise all these resources,” he said, adding, “Practicals are an integral part of our curriculum without which our degrees won’t be valid. We have to implement them and we will.”
Dr. Jha told everyone that the semester was not over. He also clarified that the university had declared a 10 per cent rebate in fees acknowledging that there were various extracurricular activities that the students were deprived of. He also informed that KU had waived fines for late fee payment.
“Nevertheless, we are in regular contact with the students and have also been discussing with the registrar and other officials,” Jha said, asking the striking students to understand the processes in the university. “We are answerable to the senate. We also have to respect various laws and regulations that guide our functioning. On top of that, finances are a sensitive issue. We cannot solely make the decision on our own like private colleges. Please don’t hurry.”