EDUCATION SECTOR SHOULD BE FREE OF STRIKES Kathmaandu, 5 Oct Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai has expressed the confidence that political parties would themselves be able to find a way out to the present political deadlock in the country, RSS reports. Opening the 15th general convention of the Nepal University Teachers´ Association on Friday, the Prime Minister stressed that the political parties should utilize their skills, knowledge and experience for drafting the new constitution through the Constituent Assembly along with ethnic identity and federalism. He highly appreciated the role of university teachers in democratic movements in the country. Stating the government has forwarded the concept of multi-university with a view to providing quality and advanced education to the citizens, the Prime Minister stressed that disputes related to Tribhuvan University be ended as quickly as possible. He sought an end to non- academic environment getting promoted in universities to have educational environment and urged all not to agitate just for agitation´s sake. The culture of padlocking and strikes flourishing in the universities are the obstacles for an atmosphere conducive to education and it should be ended at the earliest, said the Prime Minister and University Chancellor. He said the government was committed to the development and promotion of education sector, and meeting the people´s expectations. Chairman of the Public Campus Teachers Association Gopa Pandey, Bibhutiranjan Jha of Kathmandu University Teachers´ Association and Purna Bahadur Khadka of Pokhara University wished for the success of the general convention.The general convention will conclude tomorrow. Nnnn STRANDED TOURISTS PICKED UP FROM LUKLA AFTER BREAK IN WEATHER Kathmandu, 5 Oct.: Various airlines have made partial flights at Tenjing Hillary Airport, Lukla, today [Friday], where flights were obstructed for the past six Days, RSS reports from Solokhumbu. Nepal Airlines, Tara Air, Air Kasthamandap, Agni Air, among others, made 23 flights today as climate improved.. A total of 315 tourists, staying at Lukla with a hope of climate improvement were back to Kathmandu and same number of tourists entered Khumbu region. According to Chief at Tenjing Hillary Airport, Rinji Sherpa, all flights were cancelled as the climate worsened after 11:00 am though there was partial improvement in climate in the morning. Sherpa added that all fights have been cancelled from afternoon due to bad weather though there was scheduled to make flights by different airlines today. nnnn