Wednesday, 18 December 2024

Tribhuvan University Land Controversy: Lab School Run Under 'Guthi' Faces Scrutiny

 controversy has erupted surrounding a private lab school operating on Tribhuvan University (TU) land, which has been running under a "Guthi" (trust) led by political and educational figures, including Congress Treasurer Umesh Shrestha and former Education Minister Krishna Gopal Shrestha. The lab school, established to provide teaching practice for TU's Faculty of Education students, has been operating since 1999 under a 15-year agreement with the Ministry of Education. However, after the agreement expired, TU has repeatedly demanded the land back, which has been met with resistance.

The issue has escalated, with the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police launching an investigation into the matter. They have pointed out that both the private school operators and the government institutions involved may be liable for legal action due to the unauthorized use of public land for private schooling without the necessary approvals.

The investigation has revealed that the Ministry of Education, without consulting TU, granted permission for the use of university land for operating a private school. It was found that the private school was collecting fees from students and parents, operating as a business without the consent of the landowner. The investigation has called for the removal of the school from TU’s land, and further action is expected.

The commission has also noted that the school operators were unable to provide evidence that the land had been legally leased to them by TU. As a result, the conclusion has been reached that the school should be removed from the premises, and the matter may be escalated for further legal procedures.

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