“Aren’t you going abroad?” is probably one of the most-asked questions that Nepali youths face these days. The trend of young students in the country going abroad for further studies has been increasing tremendously over the past few years. Almost every household these days has a member who is in a foreign country for their further education.
So much so, even the coronavirus pandemic has not dented the young people’s wish to travel abroad for studies.
Data from the Ministry of Education reveals that between July 17, 2018, and the end of 2019, Nepal issued 85,758 No Objection Certificates (NOCs). While 42,631 students acquired the certificate to study in Australian higher education institutes, the number for Japan was 12,317. As many as 3,164 students received the NOC for China and 2,112 got it to study in South Korea, among others.
It is always good when students want to go to a foreign country to enhance their knowledge but the problem starts when they refuse to return citing various reasons. Because at the end of the day the country loses out on capable human resources.
According to Prof Bidya Nath Koirala, Former Head of the Central Department of Education at Tribhuvan University, “As soon as students start understanding the situation of our country they start making plans to go abroad. It is sad but true.” He mentions that students want to travel abroad because they not only get a quality education but also opportunities to earn better as compared to Nepal.
Prof Koirala further mentions that as per his observation 28% to 30% of students go abroad solely to get a good education while the rest are mostly lured by the money they can earn. He also states that there are many who are attracted by the glamorous life the developed countries have to offer.
“Another significant reason for Nepali students going abroad is to escape the social restrictions and some choose this option due to peer pressure,” he informs.
Meanwhile, according to Ashok Gurung, counselor of Adhyaya Educational Services, the most popular destinations among Nepali students are Australia, Canada and the United States. He informs that they have sent almost 100 students to Australia in the last three years, as it is the number one country of choice.
“Most students who visit us are seeking a better quality of life along with a globally recognised degree. They are not satisfied with the limited number of courses and universities in Nepal as well the low number of career options,” he shares.
The problem right now is that students are in a dilemma as many international borders are still closed, he mentions. “As per my conversations with students, the major reason for them going abroad is to gain financial stability.”
While talking to Siddartha Shrestha, a student of Little Angels’ College of Management, he shares that he is keen on studying either in the United States or in England. When asked why he does not want to continue his studies in Nepal, he replies, “It is not only about the quality of education that developed countries have to offer but also the job prospects in the future.”
Shrestha adds that he wants to go abroad because he wants to be independent and financially secure. “I want to be able to provide for my family which is not possible if I stay in Nepal,” he states. “And I am fortunate to have parents who support my dream.”
Another student, Urvee Singh who is currently studying at Ullens School, says that she has already applied to universities in the US to study liberal arts. “I want to go to the US because there are more subjects to explore which means I will have more options.” She mentions that colleges in Nepal do not offer many choices and students are compelled to opt for a course that they do not really prefer.
“I personally feel that when we have more choices we can select something we like and excel in it,” says Singh.
Prof Koirala, meanwhile, shares that the political instability in the country is also not helping the students. “The government is always mired in politics and has absolutely no interest in our education system,” he states, adding, “Even the education minister is not serious about the future of our students and how to improve the system.”
He further cites the example of how poorly prepared the government was to handle the education system during the pandemic. Another aspect Prof Koirala mentions that needs to be immediately improved is the teaching method. “Our teachers are still stuck with the traditional method of focusing on only theoretical classes with practically no emphasis on practical lessons,” he shares.
However, he says that there is light at the end of the tunnel. “Better colleges are being established across the country and the younger teachers these days have also started adapting to the new methods of teaching,” Prof Koirala mentions. “Moreover, with awareness rising among the people the government is under pressure now to improve the education system,” he says.
“Hopefully, we will one day have a system whereby students won’t have to fly away from their loved ones just to build a better future for themselves.”
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