Minister of Education, Science, and Technology, Bidya Bhattarai, visited educational institutions and Khwopa Hospital run by Bhaktapur Municipality on 16^th Poush, 2081. The minister assessed the physical infrastructure necessary for Khwopa University, as Bhaktapur Municipality advances efforts to establish and operate the proposed university.

Minister Bidya Bhattarai, was warmly received by Nepal Workers and Peasants' Party Secretary and Member of Parliament Prem Suwal, Bhaktapur Municipality Mayor Sunil Prajapati along with Er. Sujan Maka, Principal of Khwopa Engineering College and Er. Sunil Duwal, Principal of Khwopa College of Engineering during her visit to Khwopa on Tuesday.

Following the visits to the educational institutions and infrastructure, a discussion program was held where Minister Bhattarai commended Bhaktapur Municipality’s contributions to education, describing them as exemplary. She expressed her positive stance regarding approving the operation of Khwopa University, emphasizing the municipality's significant role in advancing educational opportunities for the community.

Minister Bhattarai acknowledged that discussions on the bill have been ongoing for an extended period and affirmed her agreement on its timely completion. She informed attendees that the Khwopa University Bill has been forwarded to the Council of Ministers, where it is currently undergoing positive deliberations.

The minister also emphasized the need to maintain academic discipline, stating that strikes, lockouts, and unruly behavior in universities are unacceptable. She stressed the importance of controlling apolitical activities within educational institutions to ensure a conducive learning environment.

Speaking at a discussion program, Prem Suwal, Secretary of the Nepal Workers and Peasants' Party, underscored the significance of municipalities operating universities in the 21^st century.

Drawing parallels with the city-states of Rome and Athens, Suwal emphasized that municipalities are well-suited to pioneer urban universities, aligning with global trends. He proposed that the establishment of Khwopa University, managed by Bhaktapur Municipality, could serve as a groundbreaking experiment in Nepal.

Suwal critiqued historical and contemporary governance, remarking, “The Rana regime kept Nepal in the dark ages for 104 years. Even in the current republic, it is inappropriate to prohibit municipalities from operating universities.”

Highlighting constitutional provisions, Suwal pointed out that education falls under the shared jurisdiction of federal, provincial, and local levels, making the argument against municipal university operations unfounded. He urged the government to move forward with the approval and implementation of Khwopa University as an innovative step toward enhancing Nepal’s education system.

He emphasized the necessity of establishing Khwopa University to offer Nepali students research and education directly tied to productive labor.

He highlighted the historical journey of the Khwopa University Bill, stating, “The bill for Khwopa University was registered in Parliament by the Ministry of Education in 2073 BS, following the promulgation of the Constitution, and was distributed to Members of Parliament. However, it failed to pass due to the government's lack of willpower at the time.”

Suwal stressed that the delay in approving the bill undermines the potential for educational reform in Nepal. He urged the current government to expedite the passage of the Khwopa University Bill, asserting, “There should be no delay in passing this bill now.”

During a discussion program, Mayor Sunil Prajapati reiterated the municipality's commitment to establishing and operating Khwopa University. He highlighted the steps taken to secure 108 ropanis of land in Sallaghari, Ward No. 1, Bhaktapur Municipality, for the university's development.

"Bhaktapur Municipality has already written to Nepal Trust multiple times to acquire the necessary land for Khwopa University," Mayor Prajapati stated. He further emphasized the urgency of this initiative by personally handing over a formal letter of request to Minister for Education, Science, and Technology Bidya Bhattarai, urging her to take necessary actions to facilitate the land acquisition and expedite the process of passing the Khwopa University Bill 2080.

Mayor Prajapati's appeal reflects the municipality's determination to advance higher education infrastructure and secure parliamentary approval for Khwopa University, marking a significant step toward realizing the vision of a municipally-operated urban university in Nepal.

Minister Bidya Bhattarai, conducted a comprehensive inspection of various educational and health institutions run by Bhaktapur Municipality. These included Khwopa Engineering College, Khwopa College of Engineering, Khwopa Secondary School, Khwopa College, Sharda Campus Secondary School, Khwopa College of Law, Khwopa Hospital, and Khwopa Polytechnic Institute.

During the inspection, Er. Sujan Maka, Principal of Khwopa Engineering College, briefed Minister Bhattarai on the services provided by both engineering colleges, the number of enrolled students, and the available physical infrastructure. Er. Sunil Duwal, Principal of Khwopa College of Engineering, also participated in the discussion, highlighting the colleges' achievements and contributions to technical education in Nepal. The visit provided an opportunity for the Minister to observe firsthand the significant contributions of Bhaktapur Municipality in education and healthcare.

At the program following the inspection, Nepal Workers and Peasants' Party Secretary Prem Suwal presented party publications to Minister Bhattarai, while Mayor Sunil Prajapati offered municipal and college publications as gifts. The heads of all departments and sections from both colleges were in attendance, emphasizing the collaborative effort in showcasing the municipality's achievements.