Many who purchased gowns for their convocation complained that the gowns were not the right size, were old, and some were even torn.
What you should know
Long queues have been seen at the store branch of the Office of the Controller of Examinations, Balkhu for the past few days. The office has distributed gowns to around 13,000 people for their convocation ceremonies in the last three days alone.
Pooja Tiruwa, a native of Itahari, was in line to get her gown after paying a deposit of Rs 1,500. After completing her graduation studies, she came to Kathmandu to be consecrated and waited in line for a while to get her gown, but she did not show any enthusiasm after that. Because the size of the gown she received was much larger than she needed. She complained, ‘The gown is very old, the size is also large, if you wear a saree, it will cover everything.’
Although the university purchased 5,500 new gowns this year, the number of people participating in the convocation is 16,380. There is a provision that a student can get one and three gowns for each parent. This figure is enough to understand that not everyone participating in the convocation ceremony gets a new gown. Many who bought gowns for consecration complained that the gowns were not according to the size, were old, and some were torn.
Sundar Bhattarai of Butwal had arrived in Kathmandu four days in advance, fearing that he would not be able to get his gown. A graduate of the Faculty of Management, he said that it is impractical to give the same size gown to different faculties and students. Showing the cap he received, he said, “The cap is old and even torn. When I tried to exchange it, they said it did not fit, now I am forced to wear this one.” He has a question – if the university adopts different curricula and evaluation systems for different faculties, why is everyone in the same size for the convocation attire? He said that he was saddened by the additional expenses of accommodation, food and transportation when he came to Kathmandu, but he did not get the attire he wanted.
Swastika Pandey from Butwal also shared a similar experience. A graduate of the Faculty of Management, she said, “All students have different physical structures. How can one size fit everyone?”
Not all the experiences of students who come to get the gown are negative. Khemraj Awasthi, who has done his master’s degree from Shankardev Campus, had a new gown in his hand. Although he expressed his happiness at getting the new gown, he said that the cap he brought with him did not fit him. He said with a laugh, “One fits, but the other does not.” No matter what, the desire to be initiated has to be fulfilled.’
Dawa Sherpa, co-controller of the Office of the Controller of Examinations, has his own argument regarding the students’ complaints. He said that 5,500 gowns were purchased for this year and they are available in only two sizes, medium and normal. ‘It is not possible to make gowns according to the size of all students,’ said Sherpa. ‘Two sizes usually suit everyone. As an exception, some fall above the knees, some reach the bottom.’
Co-controller Sherpa said that some new gowns and caps were reused this time and some gowns and caps used last year were reused. He said that since the number of students is evaluated every year, some new ones are added and some old ones are used, so students can get any gown, new or old. After returning the gown taken after paying a deposit of Rs 1,500, the office will refund the remaining amount after deducting a fee of Rs 300.
