KATHMANDU, Jan 23: Nepali students are increasingly looking beyond the country’s borders for higher education. According to a report published by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), Nepali students spent a massive Rs 47.34 billion on overseas education during the first five months of the current fiscal year (FY 2024/25).
While some take it as a sign of being a part of a globalized world, many others think it is due to systemic weaknesses within the educational infrastructure of the country. Choosing to study abroad raises questions as to whether the country can guarantee quality education to keep its brightest minds from such crossroads.
Increased attractiveness of studying abroad
From Kathmanduites to youths from the remotest corners of the country, many students are leaving the country to pursue their studies overseas.What, though, really is driving this exodus?
For 25-year-old Nibha Manandhar, a student of sociology, the issue is, in fact, that there is not much space for the university options available in Nepal. "Many students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees choose to study abroad primarily because Nepali universities can’t meet their expectations for quality education. The variety of subjects offered is limited, and the academic environment does not support the rigorous learning that many students crave for," she says.
And supporting these views is digital marketing consultant Sagar Khatiwada, who particularly mentions that the erratic academic calendars and regular disruption at the hands of politics at Nepali varsities keep students away. "Universities are disrupted by politics. They lack practical, skills-based learning due to which students feel that the education system here doesn't provide the knowledge or skills that one really needs for professional success," he says.
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One of the present-day students, Pratikshya Subedi, gives a concrete example of why students are heading to foreign shores to pursue their studies, elucidating modern infrastructures and specialized courses as the driving factors. "The students feel that the education system here does not offer as wide an opportunity, or quality as that abroad. Modern infrastructure, insufficient specialized courses, and a most uncertain employment future-most often make studying abroad the more appealing choice," says she.
Are Nepali universities competitive enough?
The million-dollar question here remains, do the universities in Nepal compete enough to continue holding students? The answer is very clear to most students: no.
Manandhar, however, does not consider that the universities of Nepal are on par to the international standards in education. "There are too few universities, and the quality of education is not uniform," she said, "Besides, the system here is not standardized. For example, organized calendars for each academic year do not exist and examinations are also not well-organized. In the country where I am studying now, there are many qualified faculty members, and then again, the education quality suffered."
Nepal's higher education system is just outdated and not adequately resourced," says Khatiwada, "To compete with international institutions, Nepali universities need to operate more systematically, offer practical learning opportunities, and improve work-life balance. But some universities in Nepal that are affiliated to international institutions tend to perform better because they follow global standards," he says.
For Subedi, the modern infrastructure seen in universities abroad is a significant draw. "In Nepal, many universities lack the kind of infrastructure and resources that students in other countries take for granted. This, along with the inconsistent quality of education, makes it difficult for Nepali institutions to compete on a global scale," she says.
What can Nepal do to retain its students?
So, how can Nepal improve its education system to keep its brightest minds at home? Students agree that systemic changes are essential.
Manandhar emphasizes the need for accessible, high-quality education. "Education should be a public good. It should be made available to all citizens at an affordable price," she says, “But the government has struggled to provide this. Many people, especially those from marginalized communities, are deprived of quality education, which is why so many choose to study abroad or turn to privatized education. If Nepal wants to improve higher education, there needs to be better management of universities, a systematic approach to examinations, and a wider variety of subjects for students to choose from."
Khatiwada believes that "specialized courses and research facilities could retain a lot of students from Nepal," saying, "students often leave for better academic resources and opportunities for advanced learning. If there are specialized programs, cutting-edge research opportunities, and a competitive job market within the country, it could become a more attractive destination for higher education."
Subedi agrees that the quality of education in schools should be brought up throughout the country. "A greater focus on different types of classes, modern facilities, and job-related learning skills are what are urgently required," she said. "Aside from that, the government has to invest more in scholarships, arrange for various other financial resources, and ultimately open up new employment opportunities."
