Part-Time Professors Protest Jobs

Professors who work part timely at Madhya Pashim University have protested over a job stability issue. They staged a sit-in at the gate of the university's central building, demanding their professional security.
They have started a phased protest, saying that there has been no concrete initiative from the university officials to manage the part-time professors who have been teaching regularly for 11 years since the university was established.
Chhabilal Bohora, president of the Part-time Professors' Association, said that they were forced to protest because the professional future of the part-time professors who have been teaching at the university for a long time is uncertain. He said, "The university officials have repeatedly negotiated with us to manage the part-time professors. It has been agreed three times to take part-time professors on contract service. But the process was not taken forward. This has created a situation where our professional future is in danger. This is the reason behind the protest."
There are 26 part-time professors working at Madhya Paschim University. Part-time professor Ramesh Budha said, "Even though we are part-time, we have been given a full load of responsibility. We have to take 15 hours a week for undergraduates and 12 hours of period for postgraduates. But we have been taking more than that period. We also came through the process as per the advertisement made by the university. But some of those who did not teach were directly taken on contract service. We were arranged for part-time professors who have been working continuously for 11 years. We have serious objections to this. The university leadership should take our demand seriously. We should have professional assurance.’
Solidarity of other professors and SBU in the movement
Other stakeholders have also expressed solidarity with the movement started by part-time professors at the university. Stakeholders such as the Nepal National Professors’ Organization, the Independent Students’ Union, and the Democratic Professors’ Association Nepal have also expressed solidarity with their movement.
University Registrar Prof. Dr. Shobhakhar Kandel said that efforts are being made to address the demands of the part-time professors. According to him, discussions are underway with the agitating professors by assigning two members of the university’s secretariat.