Prime Minister Balen Shah has instructed vice-chancellors to implement, without exception, the decision to immediately remove party-affiliated student and employee organization structures from universities and health and educational institutions.
He gave this directive during a three-and-a-half-hour-long meeting held on Monday at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers with vice-chancellors from universities and academies across the country.
During the discussion, vice-chancellors said that after the Gen Z movement and recent election, students’ political activities have slowed, and that initiatives to remove such organizations are already underway.
PM Shah, maintaining a firm stance that politics should not be practiced in educational institutions under any pretext, clarified that no law or act would be an obstacle to removing partisan organizational structures.
He said that no party flags, influence, or organizations would be allowed in "sacred places" like hospitals, colleges, and schools. He suggested that those wishing to engage in politics should resign from their professional responsibilities and commit to politics full-time.
During the meeting, Vice-chancellor of Nepal Sanskrit University, Dhaneshwar Nepal, complained of threats and attacks faced while attempting to remove student organizations.
In response, PM Shah instructed that any security issues arising during the removal process be immediately reported to the relevant ministry or his secretariat.
He emphasized that the government is committed to providing all necessary support, including security mechanisms, and urged the vice-chancellors to fulfill their duties confidently, assuring them that the police administration would perform its duty.
The prime minister also issued strict instructions to fully adhere to the academic calendar and publish exam results within one month.
Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel also said that the ministry has already issued directives to abolish organizations affiliated to political parties, and that existing laws would not hinder implementation.
Vice-chancellor of Tribhuvan University Deepak Aryal said that after the Gen Z movement and election, student and employee organizations have gradually become inactive.
Vice-chancellors of Mid-western University (Dhruba Kumar Gautam), Purbanchal University (Biju Kumar Thapaliya), Far-western University (Hemraj Pant) reported that political tensions still persist in some affiliated colleges.
Other vice-chancellors said that political activities in their institutions are minimal and expressed confidence that stricter administration could eliminate politics from the education sector.
