The arrangement of two days off per week will remain in place: Education Minister Pokharel
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Minister for Education and Sports, Sasmita Pokharel, has said that vice-chancellors can make independent decisions regarding the appointment of university officials such as registrars and deans. Speaking with journalists on Friday, she stated that newly appointed vice-chancellors will be allowed to form their own teams.
“We have told the vice-chancellors to form their own teams. The government will not interfere in appointments such as registrar, rector, and dean. We are committed to ensuring university autonomy,” she said.
She stated that vice-chancellors have been instructed to move forward according to the government’s vision, but that there will be no interference. She claimed that, for the first time, a vice-chancellor was appointed on the basis of merit, which has sent a positive message. Pokharel explained that there has been some delay in the appointment of registrars because vice-chancellors have been asked to form their teams through due process without political division of positions.
“We have given all authority of the university to the vice-chancellor. We have also provided our vision for where to take the university in four years. They have been told to work accordingly,” she said. However, she did not disclose what kind of vision the government has provided. She stated that, although universities had previously been run centrally by the government, they are now autonomous and able to make their own decisions. Pokharel, who is also the government spokesperson, said that the Sunday holiday will remain in place.
“This decision was not made by the government to be popular. We made it knowing there would be criticism, but the decision to give two days off—Saturday and Sunday—will remain,” she said. She stated that giving two days off per week will bring only benefits. “Holidays benefit mental health. Efficiency also increases. Even though we have not conducted research ourselves, research from around the world says the same,” Minister Pokharel said. “Many other countries also practice two days off per week.”
She claimed that, although there has been immediate criticism of the two-day weekend, it will have a positive long-term impact. She said the government expects the private sector, along with government agencies, to also implement the two-day weekend. “Some financial sectors, including banks, have also started giving Sundays off,” spokesperson Pokharel said. “We expect it to be implemented in all sectors. Many parents have complained about the two-day weekend. Once they are also given holidays, those complaints will end.”
