TU Humanities Enrollment Falls as Psychology Gains Interest

Student Numbers Decline in Some TU Humanities Departments, Interest in Psychology Rises

Although student numbers appear low in some departments under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Tribhuvan University, student interest in the Department of Psychology has increased comparatively. In some departments, an imbalance has been seen between the number of students and teachers.

According to Dr. Ghimire, 60 students are studying at the master’s level, 60 in MPhil, and 20 in PhD in Buddhist Philosophy. This department has only 3 teachers. She said that although Buddhist Philosophy is a diversified subject, the shortage of teachers has forced everyone to teach all subjects.

In the Central Department of Sanskrit, 3 permanent and 1 part-time teacher are working, while 15 students are studying. In Yoga, however, there are 150 students and 6 teachers, Assistant Professor Akash Nilam informed.

Some improvement has been seen in the TU Central Department of Psychology. The department has enrolled 81 students in the first semester and 70 students in the third semester. Among them, an average of 58 students attend classes regularly, the department’s Information Officer Nodnath Trital said. According to him, 24 students were enrolled in MPhil last year.

Trital said that the demand for psychology is increasing in society. According to him, because subjects such as clinical psychology, school counseling, and organizational behavior are taught in the department, student interest in psychology appears higher compared to other departments.

Navin Upreti, a student studying at the master’s level, said that a balance is necessary between the semester system and the practical aspect. He said flexible classes in the morning or evening are needed for students who want to continue employment and study together. He said students face difficulty due to compulsory attendance and the lack of research and internship opportunities.

Free Student Union President Dipak Raj Joshi emphasized that higher education should be linked with employment. He said that although decentralization of education has made it easier to pursue higher education from local areas, the human resources produced by the university should be society-oriented.

Tribhuvan University’s Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Shankar Prasad Khanal said student numbers in the humanities faculty have declined because students’ priorities have changed. According to him, since students want to enter the workforce after completing their bachelor’s degree, it is necessary to create an environment for “working while studying.”

Khanal, who is also the Dean of TU’s Institute of Science and Technology, claimed that student numbers have not declined in the science faculty. According to him, student numbers are stable in 13 departments under the science faculty, and slight annual fluctuations are normal.