Nepal, May 15 -- As the government purges political appointees in a radical bid to clean up higher education, a new crisis emerges: The glaring lack of incentive for the truly qualified individuals to take the helm of a university. For decades, the path to a university Vice Chancellor (VC) office in Nepal was paved with political patronage. That era, when the position was viewed as a reward for party loyalty, came to an abrupt halt this month. The newly formed government issued an ordinance vacating the posts of VCs, registrars and dozens of other officials in public universities across the country. Citing an urgent need to 'depoliticise' the education sector, the government has swept away many political appointees, arguing that the previ...