Kathmandu February 12.

Minister for Education, Science and Technology Girirajmani Pokhrel has said the (proposed) Madan Bhandari University of Science and Technology would function as an academic institution completely promoting science and technology-based education. During discussions over the bill to establish the University in a meeting of the Education and Health Committee, House of Representatives, the Minister said the University to be established at Chitlang, Makwanpur would be different than other existing universities in the country and will be of advanced features and facilities so that it could compete with the world’s leading universities. During the meeting, terming the process to open the University as compatible with time, the lawmakers advised the government to re-name it the Madan-Ashrit University. NC lawmaker Gagan Thapa urged the minister to make clear about the nature of University and its education system. Lawmaker and former Minister Khagaraj Adhikari said the University meant for the promotion of technical education should not include other subjects. Nepal Communist Party (NCP) lawmaker Bidya Bhattarai said new generation were in the hope of and wait for having an opportunity to pursue higher degrees as per the demand of time, calling upon to move the bill ahead as soon as possible. Committee President Jayapuri Gharti apprised the meeting that the bill would be endorsed with amendments based on feedback from experts and those seeking amendments to it, following the clause-wise deliberations. The government has proposed to establish a separate science and technology university in the commemoration of the late veteran Communist leader Madan Bhandari who along with another Communist leader Jeevraj Ashrit was killed in a car accident at Dasdhunga, Chitwan on May 16, 1993.