The Education Ministry on Thursday directed all medical colleges to return the additional amount—if charged—to students within a month.

Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokhrel, on Thursday, had called TU office bearers including Vice-Chancellor Tirtha Khaniya, Dean of the Institute of Medicine Dr Jagdish Prasad Agrawal, representatives of student unions and students of Gandaki Medical College (GMC) along with medical college operators for a discussion following the padlocking of the offices of TU and IoM officials.

 Following a widespread criticism faced by medical colleges for charging exorbitant fees and the 47-day-long strike of the students of Gandaki Medical College, All Nepal Free Student Union and All Nepal Free Student Union (Revolutionary), student wings of the ruling Nepal Communist Party, had padlocked the office of TU’s Vice-chancellor and Dean of IoM three days ago.  

Hari Lamsal, joint-Secretary at the Ministry, said that the ministry, Tribhuvan University, and the IoM will monitor and confirm that the additional money charged by the medical colleges is returned.

 “The TU will also direct the IoM Dean Office to ensure that the academic year of GMC goes undisrupted and that students should not miss the second year exam,” Lamsal said. He also informed that the government would also provide security to students.

 The college administration at GMC has not accepted examination forms from students and the deadline set by the TU to submit examination forms has already passed. Students at GMC had earlier filed cases with the police against college operators for charging additional money under different headings and pretexts.

“After receiving the directive from the ministry, we hope that the extra amount charged from the students will be returned and the government will effectively end the corruption prevailing in medical institutes in the country,” said Anit Sinha, a 2016-batch MBBS student of GMC. According to the officials of Tribhuvan University, students pursuing medical studies, under any faculty, in TU affiliated colleges can demand the college authority to return the extra amount charged from them.

“If any college denies returning the extra amount charged from the students, they can file a complaint at either IoM or TU. The colleges are not allowed to charge any extra amount than the ceiling set by the government,” Khaniya told the Post.

“If the college does not return the extra amount even after our directive, they will face action such as terminating the affiliation or reducing the seat numbers,” said Khaniya. He added, “A student, however, must have documents to support his/her claim.”

Following the decision, student wings agreed to remove the locks placed at the TU’s Vice Chancellor and IoM Dean Office. “We have removed the lock at VC and IoM Dean offices after the agreement. However, we have to see whether today’s directive will be implemented or not before deciding on our actions further,” said RC Lamichhane, union secretary.