Student unions have given a three-day ultimatum to the Tribhuvan University (TU) to withdraw its decision to implement the semester system in 23 of its constituent colleges in the Valley.

The constituent colleges are set to begin for master´s level classes from March.

Organizing a press conference on Tuesday, the union has warned of tough steps if the TU does not address their demand on time.

Vice Chairperson of the All Nepal National Free Student Union (ANNFSU) Dipak Gautam said students who plan to pursue their education and job together were mostly hit by the TU decision.

Form distribution for entrance exam has also been disrupted following the student union´s move.

“We have urged the TU Vice Chancellor to postpone the semester system,” said Sudesh Parajuli, education department chief of UML-affiliated ANFSU´s central committee. The unions affiliated to other political parties have also shown solidarity with ANNFSU protest.

Students have claimed that the quota system has prevented many students from pursuing masters´ degree in government colleges.

“Setting the quota of 150 or 200 students for courses which saw enrollment of 500 to 700 students is an injustice,” Parajuli claimed.

As per the decision of the senate in 2013, the varsity´s central campus had embraced the semester system from March last year in three of its faculties -- management, humanities and education. The decision was implemented despite protest by the unions and the professors. The science faculty had adopted the semester system long ago.

The current plan to implement semester system in Valley-based constituent colleges is also based on the decision of the TU senate that aims to replace the existing system from its all 62 constituent colleges across the country within two years.

source: republica,7 jan 2015