The government in 2010 established three new universities, including the Agriculture and Forestry University, under its plan to diversify and decentralise higher education in the country.

Authorities had hoped that this would encourage innovation in tertiary education and develop a sense of competition universities. But some of the new universities don’t even have the resources to run programmes they specialise in.

The Agriculture and Forestry University has been barred from running its veterinary programme because it failed to meet minimum criteria set by Nepal Veterinary Council. The council halted admissions to its Bachelors in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry programmes saying that its six constituent and eight affiliated colleges don’t have the required practical labs, equipment and hospital facilities to run the programme.

“It's been seven months since the university administration assured us they will take steps to comply with our requirements. However, we don’t see any progress,” Dr Narayan Ghimire, registrar at the council, told the Post. “The university has been asking us to lift the ban, however, we won’t do it unless it meets our standards.”

Though the council barred admissions in the first year, students in their second and third year are still studying there. The council had allowed the university to admit 50 students in the previous years after the administration committed to meeting its requirements soon. But, that never happened.

Allowing the university to run the programme at this point means compromising the quality of education, Ghimire said.

Classes for the programme generally begin by December. Those who have completed their grade 12 in Science stream are eligible to get admission in the programme. The National Examination Board has announced that it will conduct final exams for grade 12 from November 24 and publish the results within two months.

“The university might not get to run the programme even in the upcoming academic session. It is a matter of shame,” said Ghimire. “We, however, expect the needed infrastructure to be in place soon.”

Education experts say it is a shame that new universities established with the expectation of transforming education are following in the footsteps of Tribhuvan University.

“Most of the new universities have been unable to offer anything of substance beyond what the oldest university of the country offers,” said Binay Kusiyait, a professor at Tribhuvan University. “They have neither excelled in quality nor have introduced new programmes.”

Agriculture and Forestry University was established in Chitwan, Rampur on the property of the Tribhuvan University which also has been providing different programmes on agriculture and veterinary sciences from there.

Tribhuvan University, after the establishment of the agriculture university, shifted its programme to Paklihawa in Rupandehi district.

Officials at the agriculture university say that they are committed to preparing all infrastructure prescribed by the council.

Punya Prasad Regmi, vice-chancellor at the university, said he is working to make sure the university fulfills all the necessary requirements before admissions begin for the upcoming academic year. “Fulfilling the council’s requirement has been a priority since I I assumed this office,” Regmi, who was appointed to the position last month, told the Post. “If private colleges can meet requirements set by the council, why can’t a state- funded university do so?” He added that mismanagement of the university in the past was to blame for all the council’s refusal to grant permission to admit new students.

The pandemic is also partially responsible for the delay in the procurement, he added.

Officials at the council, however, said all the equipment and chemicals the university needs can be purchased from India and the pandemic hasn’t created any obstacles to importing such goods.

“I can tell you, it doesn’t take months to procure necessary items from India. The pandemic is just an excuse,” said Ghimire.