KATHMANDU, March 9 -- After assuming office on March 6, the newly-appointed Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Sumana Shrestha, made her first decision to amend the system of appointing chancellor and vice-chancellor of universities across Nepal.

She decided to entrust the legal management of university leadership to academicians. However, her words did not match her actions as she herself holds the position of vice-chancellor of 11 out of 13 universities of Nepal in her capacity as the Minister for Education. She should have stepped down from the post of vice-chancellor if she was true to her words.

On the other hand, the law grants her the authority to alter policies, rules, and laws from school to higher level education....